Get Marathon Ready with our Skincare Guide for Runners

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aloe vera leaf juice, antioxidants, Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser, Bloom and Blossom Legs Eleven Cooling Leg Serum, body, clean, cleanse, cleansing, Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser, Dermalogica Precleanse, Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50, double cleanse, Elemis Ultra-Conditioning Lip Balm, environmental factors, heavy, hyaluronic acid, hydrate, hydration, legs, lip, lips, London Marathon, marathon, Maskology Hyaluronic Acid Professional Sheet Mask, moisture, moisturise, molecules, peppermint leaf oil, protection, Runner, runners, running, serum, skin, sunburn, sunscreen, sweat, tired, UV, UVA, UVB, water

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The London Marathon is just over a week away and runners all over the UK are preparing to take part in one of the most gruelling events of their running career. More than 40,000 people run together in London in a celebration of positivity, diversity and inclusion, raising over £1 billion for various good causes, since it began in 1981. With this in mind, we thought we’d do our bit and share with you some skincare tips which will make running the marathon a bit easier – or even just improve your couch-to-5k, if the marathon is a bit beyond your abilities!

Wear Sunscreen

Ahead of running a marathon, or any race where you’ll spend a lot of time outside, applying sunscreen is SO important. The last thing you want is to be coming up on mile 25 and realising you’re red from sunburn, not exertion. Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50 is a sheer solar protection treatment that defends against prolonged skin damage from UV light and environmental assault, and offers 40 minutes of water resistance, meaning you won’t sweat it all off during your first mile. 

Cleanse Properly 

After running the marathon, your skin is going to need some serious cleansing. As well as being subjected to potentially hours of sweat, you’re also going to want to remove all of that grime and pollution which is inevitable in a city. Dermalogica Precleanse is the professional’s deep cleansing weapon, allowing you to achieve ultra clean and healthy skin with a double cleansing regimen which should also include Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser, to help remove build-up caused by environmental factors. 

Replenish Lost Moisture

When we run long distances, our body loses a lot of moisture, some of which you’ll replace by drinking. However, your skin often still needs an extra boost of hydration to get it back to its best. We suggest first treating your skin to a Maskology Hyaluronic Acid Professional Sheet Mask, followed by Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser. The combination of these treatments will replenish lost moisture and protect your skin from further loss of hydration, going forward. 

Don’t Forget Your Lips

There’s a reason that Aussie cricketers look like they’ve got white lipstick on – it’s because they know that spending hours running around in the sunshine can damage the delicate skin on our lips! Elemis Ultra-Conditioning Lip Balm is an instantly hydrating lip treatment, which offers effective delivery and release of the hyaluronic acid molecules to ensure even the driest lips feel replenished, restored and hydrated. 

Soothe Sore Limbs

One of the main issues that people deal with, from their post-marathon body, is tired, heavy legs which can leave you feeling like you’re dragging logs around for days afterwards. Bloom and Blossom Legs Eleven Cooling Leg Serum is a lightweight formula with stimulating peppermint leaf oil to revitalise tired, aching legs. It contains aloe vera leaf juice, which is full of vitamins and antioxidants to give your legs a boost, while algin from seaweed, which is rich in polysaccharides, helps the skin to absorb moisture easily, allowing the serum to effortlessly soak into your skin. 

Which Type of Body Moisturiser is Best for You?

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absorption, aromatherapy, Bloom and Blossom Pyjamarama Dry Body Oil, body, butter, cold pressed grapefruit oil, collagen, cream, Decleor Prolagene Gel, essential oils, evening primrose oil, Evolve Organic Beauty Tropical Blossom Body Butter, fluid, Frankincense, gel, hydrating, hydration, ingredients, lightweight, lotion, moisture, moisturising, moringa seed oil, oil, orange blossom, refreshing, REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion, REN Clean Skincare Neroli And Grapefruit Body Cream, rich, tissue

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While many of us spend hours poring over product descriptions and reviews to work out the best formulas for our face, we don’t often take as much care when it comes to the things we use on the rest of our body.  But how do you know which body moisturiser is best for your skin? Today, we’re taking a deep dive into our collection of hard-working hydrators to find your body’s best ally, whether you’re looking for some serious nourishing care or a shot of hydrating fluid that absorbs quickly.

Lotion

Starting with lotions, these are one of the products which are often best for “normal” skin, although some of them offer enough hydration to nurture very dry skin too. Lotions are a good all-rounder as they are a mixture of both oil and water, making them hydrating without being too thick. Lotions are also good if you’re time-poor as they don’t take an age to soak in. REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion is a body lotion for all skin types designed to nourish and hydrate skin with the delicate fragrance of rose

Cream

Body creams usually have a slightly thicker consistency than a lotion and take longer to soak in, but will offer a higher level of hydration. They also tend to last longer and often offer more fragrance than a lotion because of the richer formula. REN Clean Skincare Neroli And Grapefruit Body Cream is a rich body cream for all skin types, designed to leave skin deeply hydrated and is formulated with orange blossom and cold pressed grapefruit oil, to hydrate and soften skin while leaving it with an invigorating fragrance.

Butter

Body butters might be more your thing if you have extremely dry skin or the cold winter air is causing damage. Body butters are a mixture of rich butters and oils that hydrate dry skin and promote a smooth surface, in contrast to body lotions, which typically contain a mixture of water and oils. They also keep your skin hydrated for a long time after you use them. Evolve Organic Beauty Tropical Blossom Body Butter contains nourishing organic shea butter and natural Tahitian coconut monoi macerated in exotic blossoms of gardenia. It leaves skin smooth, soft and fragranced with exotic natural hibiscus.

Oil

An alternative to creams and lotions that provides all-over moisture is body oil, a hydrating skincare product with many uses. Body oils can be applied to dry skin in the morning and evening, or after a bath or shower, due to their ease of absorption and lasting softness. Many body oils can also be used on the face and hair and will provide a deep level of nourishment, and will often contain fragrant essential oils which offer an aromatherapy benefit, too. Bloom and Blossom Pyjamarama Dry Body Oil is a lightweight oil to help calm the skin and mind before sleep. The ingredients are 99% naturally derived and it contains frankincense, moringa seed oil and evening primrose oil.

Gel

Gel-based body products are water-based products which typically do not contain any oils, making them very fast to absorb. They often have a very refreshing feel to them and they hydrate and moisturise the skin without leaving a film or residue. Many gel moisturisers are formulated with hyaluronic acid which can deeply hydrate skin. Decleor Prolagene Gel is a body treatment which supplies the deep tissue with the active ingredients necessary for the reconstruction of its natural collagen. Toning as well as firming, the gel leaves an invisible supportive and protective film making it perfect to use during and after weight loss, particularly during pregnancy, for smoother and firmer skin.

Dry Skin on Your Body? No Problem!

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Aromatherapy Associates Rose Indulgent Body Cream, body, body butter, body cream, body oil, CBD, CBD oil, cracked, cruelty free, Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Body Oil, dry, dry skin, eczema, Elemis Skin Nourishing Body Cream, glowing, hydrating, hydration, Korean skincare, leathery, nourishing, oil, painful, Psoriasis, REN Clean Skincare Neroli And Grapefruit Body Cream, rose, scaly, South Seas - Pineapple Express CBD Body Butter, tight, Vegan

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Dry skin can occur anywhere on the body, but the hands, face, elbows, legs, feet, scalp, and arms are the most common areas. Often, the dry skin patches occur in regions which are more uncovered than others, like areas which are exposed to cold air in winter. The skin’s ability to hydrate can be disrupted by both internal and external factors, resulting in extremely dry skin.

When the skin on the body becomes extremely dry, it may feel very tight, scaly, or leathery, and frequently itches or hurts, with some dry skin being bad enough to become cracked or even infected. That’s why we’ve gathered together some of our best products for dry skin so that your body can hydrate and heal:

South Seas – Pineapple Express CBD Body Butter

Although you may associate South Seas with being a tanning brand, this CBD-infused body butter is so rich and restorative that it’s well known for being popular amongst people with dry skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, not just the tanners amongst us! It’s packed with nature’s finest ingredients from around the world, and the unique formula assists with hydrating your skin to help improve damaged skin by moisturising and treating affected areas to restore your skin’s natural beauty. 

REN Clean Skincare Neroli And Grapefruit Body Cream

Although it’s suitable for all skin types, this vegan, cruelty-free body cream from REN Clean Skincare is so nourishing that even the driest skin will benefit from using it. Formulated with orange blossom and cold pressed grapefruit oil, this creamy moisturiser not only hydrates and softens skin, it leaves it with an invigorating fragrance, too. The cream has a silky-soft finish which makes skin feel comfortable with no annoying residue. 

Elemis Skin Nourishing Body Cream

This body cream from Elemis is formulated with “excessively dry skin conditions” in mind, harnessing the power of natural ingredients to offer deep nourishment. It contains concentrated milk protein and nourishing camellia, macadamia and jojoba oils, which combine to replenish dry skin, whilst softening and balancing the acid mantle. The soothing extracts of oat kernel and limnanthes alba, combined with the lipid rich sesame and shea butter base ensures skin is left silky soft and healthy looking.

Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Body Oil

This body oil from Dermalogica is not just rich in moisturising oils – it also contains high levels of antioxidants, which help to replenish, calm and moisturise the skin. The blend is made from French plum seed oil, avocado oil and sunflower seed oil, which are rich in omega fatty acids and vitamin E, and help protect skin’s lipid barrier. It’s also packed with calming fermented red ginseng, inspired by Korean skin care rituals, which calms and nourishes to deliver glowing skin.

Aromatherapy Associates Rose Indulgent Body Cream

Last on our list of body creams for dry skin, but by no means the least, is this rose-infused treat from Aromatherapy Associates. The cream is crafted using a pure expert oil blend of warm rose, geranium and palmarosa. Furthermore, Alpine rose from the Swiss Alps is blended with antioxidant rich almond and jojoba oils to hydrate and enrich your skin, leaving you with deeply nourished, hydrated and radiant skin beautifully scented to uplift you throughout the day.

The Lowdown on Colloidal Oatmeal

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blend, Calming, collagen, colloidal, Colloidal Oatmeal, complex, dermalogica, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50, Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum, Dermalogica Super Rich Repair, elasticity, enzymes, fine lines, hydration, inflammation, irritation, Oatmeal, product, protection, redness, retinoid, serum, skin, soothing, SPF, SPF50, sun, wrinkles

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There are often ingredients in products which sound hugely complex and scientific, but are actually a lot more simple than you think. One such ingredient is “colloidal oatmeal”, which you could be forgiven for thinking was from another planet. However, colloidal oatmeal is simply made by grinding oat grain, or avena sativa, into a fine powder. 

It’s considered an emollient, a substance that softens or soothes the skin, because it contains high levels of fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients shown to benefit the skin. Colloidal oatmeal is used to treat the symptoms of many conditions, including eczema. 

Dermalogica is a brand which has harnessed the power of colloidal oatmeal in several of its products, and we’ve gathered them here to show you what they can do:

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50

This multi-functional product from Dermalogica not only gives you broad-spectrum SPF50 sun protection, but it also helps you achieve absolute hydration and help defend against the internal and external causes of skin ageing. Colloidal oatmeal and chrysanthemum parthenium (feverfew) extract calms irritated skin, while yeast extract stimulates wound healing and collagen formation while increasing oxygen utilisation in cells. It can be used as your daily moisturiser for year round protection against sun damage and free radicals.

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum 

Another product which performs many functions at once, this powerhouse serum from Dermalogica contains a 3.5% retinoid complex which provides a continual release of skin smoothing actives, working at different speeds to address the signs of skin ageing. Colloidal oatmeal is combined with zinc oxide to soothe the skin while providing anti-itch relief to chronically dry skin while palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3 and palmitoyl oligopeptide help to improve skin elasticity and tone while fighting the appearance of fine lines.

Dermalogica Super Rich Repair

This super rich moisturiser delivers immediate benefits to chronically dry, dehydrated and prematurely-ageing skin in a super-concentrated, heavy-weight cream. As well as soothing colloidal oatmeal, the formula includes powerful peptides that stimulate collagen production while an acid-free renewal complex smoothes fine lines for dramatically improved elasticity and tone. Ultra-emollient shea butter and oil of evening primrose replenish skin with maximum hydration, relieving dryness and reinforcing skin’s natural defensive barrier. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

The final colloidal oatmeal-rich product on our list is Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, a unique, rice-based enzyme powder that activates upon contact with water, releasing papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal.  It contains a super-soothing blend of green tea, ginkgo and colloidal oatmeal which calms inflammation, leaving the skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed. Furthermore, Dermalogica’s unique skin brightening complex of bearberry, aspergillus, grapefruit and licorice helps to balance uneven skin pigmentation.

Why You Should Be Paying Attention to Amino Acids

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amino acids, anti-aging, appearance, astringent, basil oil, blow, body, botanical, breakage, building blocks, Burdock, cells, chamomile, cleansing, cucumber, detangling, drying, elasticity, essential, exfoliating, expression, Eyes, Frankincense, frizz, Grapefruit, hair, healthy, heat, hydration, Ivy, Jojoba oil, lavender, lemon, lines, Mallow, moisturised, moisturising, nature, oil, oils, peel, peptides, protect, protection, radiant, rose, sagging, science, shine, skin, smoothness, softness, soothe, split ends, useful, Watercress, youthful

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Amino acids are the building blocks of the cells that make up your body – however, did you know they can also be good for your skin? Amino acids, which contain moisturising, anti-aging, and exfoliating characteristics, can aid with skin elasticity issues that arise as we age. Amino acids come in 20 different varieties, and they are useful for people of all ages and skin types. A more moisturised, youthful, and generally healthy appearance of the skin is achieved by using amino acids in skin care products that also encourage cellular repair and collagen formation. Here are five of our favourite products which harness the power of amino acids:

CACI – Amino-Lift Peptide Complex

This effective anti-ageing skin care cream contains powerful peptides, essential oils and amino acids that target expression lines and help to firm sagging skin. It can be used twice a day after cleansing to give visible results and as well as being packed with amino acids also contains basil oil, jojoba oil, grapefruit peel oil and a number of other other botanical ingredients which nourish and revive your skin. 

L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour 10-In-1 Multi-Benefit Leave-In Treatment Milk

Amino acids don’t just benefit your face – your hair can also benefit from using products which are infused with amino acids. This leave-in treatment milk from L’Oreal is a multi-benefit spray designed for coloured hair with 10 key benefits. It promises to help your hair to achieve shine, softness, smoothness of hair fibre and hydration, as well as offering protection against heat up to 230°c, detangling, anti-breakage, anti-split ends, anti-frizz and even facilitates blow-drying! 

Aromatherapy Associates Eye Zone Concentrate

The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest areas of skin on your whole body, which means that it is more prone to premature ageing. This eye cream from Aromatherapy Associates combines powerful, bio-fermented actives, advanced amino acids and an effective pure essential oil blend to lift, tighten and contour the area around the eyes. It also contains rose, camomile and frankincense essential oils to soothe and protect for a radiant, youthful complexion. 

Dermalogica Active Moist

This moisture-rich product from Dermalogica combines the best of nature and science, containing a whole host of ingredients which are taken from natural sources. Silk amino acids help smooth and improve skin texture while natural botanical astringents lemon, ivy, watercress and burdock help to refine the skin. It also contains soothing extracts of lavender, mallow and cucumber to help provide deep-hydration.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Serum

This resurfacing serum from Elemis is so powerful that it’s advised that you avoid sunbeds and always use an SPF while using the treatment! It’s created using a powerful combination of alpha-hydroxy-acids, selastin and patented Tri-Enzyme technology, as well as selected amino acids. This serum smoothes the skins’s surface, revealing a stunning complexion and also helps to reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles.