Fighting Back Against the Mask-Related Acne

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acne, acne treatment, anti ageing, anti wrinkle, antioxidants, azelaic acid, beauty, blemish, clarifying, clear skin, COVID, cruelty free, dermalogica, Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash, Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream, face, face mask, facial, flawless skin, glowing skin, glycolic acid, healing, intensive, lockdown, make up, mask, masks, Murad, Murad Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment, natural skincare, pigmentation, plant extracts, Salicylic Acid, skin, skin goals, skin problems, skincare, skincare routine, skincare treatments

Photo by Pille R. Priske on Unsplash

Whether you’re someone who is still fastidiously wearing masks when out and about or you’ve given up now that restrictions have been relaxed, there are still a lot of people battling the effects that masks had on their skin. Mask-related acne became such an issue during lockdown that it was given its own portmanteau – mas-cne! Some postulated that the spots were caused by re-wearing cloth masks without washing them between uses, while others felt it was simply an effect of your skin being less able to breathe under a mask. Either way, dealing with mas-cne requires a certain set of products – here are five of the best:

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash

One of the most effective ways to deal with acne is by using a cleanser with targeted ingredients, like this one from Dermalogica. It contains natural extracts of balm mint, eucalyptus and tea tree help eliminate breakout-causing bacteria and congestion as menthol and camphor help cool inflammation. It sloughs away excess oils and dead skin cells which block pores and contribute to acne and helps to prevent future breakouts. 

Murad Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment

This gel serum from Murad contains a Penta-Acid Technology comprised of salicylic, lysophosphatidic, hydroxydecanoic, sebacic and glycolic acids which combine to clear skin of blemish-causing bacteria, oiliness and blackheads while minimising dryness and irritation. It can be applied directly to blemishes and is clinically proven to visibly reduce blemishes within 7 days. 

Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream

This intensive, healing moisturiser from Elemis is designed to give sensitised, weathered skin a deep infusion of moisture and contains myrrh essential oil, which has regenerating, anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties, making it invaluable in products which help relieve acne. Added lavender oil helps to enhance healing and can also help to reduce the chance of scarring. 

Medik8 Blemish SOS

This rapid action treatment gel from Murad is designed to be applied directly to blemishes and remains invisible once applied, unlike some spot treatments which leave an unsightly film. It’s enriched with azelaic acid to fight blemish-causing bacteria and dioic acid to help control oil production within the skin and can be used under make up or on its own for fast-acting, spot-busting powers. 

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion

Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion is a multi-purpose product from Jan Marini which contains glycolic, salicylic and azelaic acid and is designed to treat not just acne, but also pigmentation, rosacea and fine lines and wrinkles. As well as utilising the three acids which are amazing for the skin, the lotion is packed with antioxidants and natural plant extracts which repair and refine the complexion for softer, smoother, more luminous and hydrated looking skin.

Top tips for sun safe skin

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beach, blood circulation, body, build-up, cleanse, clouds, cold water, conditioning, critical, danger, dead skin cells, dehydrated, dirt, drink, exposed, glowing, hats, irritation, itch, key ingredients, moisture, moisture and sooth, natural essential oils, natural yoghurt, outside, pain, panic, pat dry, pool, prickly heat, rashes, red, rub, skin tone, skin type, skincare routine, sleeves, spots, suffering, summer, sun, sunburn, suncream, sunglasses, sunny summer months, sunscreen, swimming, tan, tanning oil, tight, tire, tone and mositurise, uffering, uncomfortable, warm, water, worse

We all know that a good skincare routine is important, but during the warm, sunny summer months it is even more critical.

Whatever your skin type, prickly heat, sunburn, rashes and irritation are all possible if you spend time in the heat, so it is vital to get things right so you don’t end up red and in pain.

We have some easy to put into practise tips, that will help you keep skin safe all year round.

Drink water
Yes, this again. It is really important to make sure you drink plenty of water when you are out in the sun, on the beach, by the pool or exercising outside. When the sun is out your body loses more moisture than usual and this can lead you to becoming dehydrated which will make your skin look, and feel, tired, tight and uncomfortable.

Use protection properly
So many people underestimate the power of the sun, even when it is hiding behind clouds, and this is a huge mistake. Whatever you skin tone, we suggest using a sunscreen that has a minimum SPF of 30 and to apply it to your face and body at least 30 minutes before going outside. If you are in the sun for more than a few hours, it’s really important to top up every couple of hours, and also apply after swimming. Some people mix tanning oil with sunscreen but we don’t suggest doing this because some key ingredients can interact and make your sunscreen less effective, putting you in danger.

Deal with the fallout
Even if you do your best to look after your skin, you may well end up suffering from prickly heat, sunburn and irritation. Don’t panic and do not rub or itch your skin as this can make it worse, instead, place natural yoghurt on the affected area for approximately 15 minutes, then pat dry with cold water and try to rest up. You can also use a good after sun product and keep out of the sun the next day to prevent further damage.

Try natural oils
Using natural essential oils on your face and body at night, can give your skin the extra conditioning it needs. Natural oils are a great way to moisture and sooth the skin, when it has been exposed to the sun and is suffering the effects of heat.

Remember to cleanse, tone and mositurise
It is really important not to forget to cleanse your skin as this will keep pores clean and complexions clear. Breakouts can be inevitable when your skin gets hot and bothered but if you stick to the rules of cleanse, tone and moisturise, you will help you and your skin stay healthy in the sun.

Try to exfoliate
It is important to remember to exfoliate your skin during the summer as this will remove dead skin cells and improve blood circulation which means your skin will be glowing. If you don’t get rid of these cells, they will sit on your skin and it will look dull and grey, plus the build-up of dirt, suncream and moisturisers can cause irritation and spots, and we can all do without those.

Cover up
Sunglasses, hats and sleeves in the midday sun are all good practise when it is hot and the sun it beating down on you. While you might want a tan, looking after your skin is much better than anything else in the long run and there are some really cute trends on the high street right now, so you can be safe and look fab.

Team Pure Beauty

These Unexpected Things Could be Making Your Complexion Worse

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acne, acneic skin, bacteria, beard, blocking, breakouts, clean, cleanliness, cleansing cloth, cuddling, Dermalogica Breakout Control, Dermalogica Foaming Wash, Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth, Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo, facial hair, flannel, germs, glasses, hair, hair products, hair spray, inflammation, kissing, outbreaks, pores, redness, sebum, skincare, skincare routine, spots, wa, wash cloth, washcloth, washing machine

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If you suffer with acne or have a tendency to break out in spots, there’s a good chance that you’re religious about sticking to a skincare routine. However, if it seems like your skincare isn’t doing a good job, you could be missing one of these five things, which can all exacerbate acneic skin.

Dirty Glasses

If you wear glasses, the frames are probably in contact with your skin for most of the day and can harbour germs and bacteria from the sebum in your skin. Failing to disinfect your glasses can cause nasty outbreaks, but try to use a plastic-friendly cleaner if your frames aren’t metal as high alcohol content could make them brittle.

Wash Cloths

If you use a washcloth like the Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth or Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo, they probably do a great job of keeping your skin clean. However, keeping your cloths clean is imperative, so make sure you put them through the washing machine at least once a week to keep bacteria at bay.

Spicy Food

Even if you don’t have a specific food intolerance, eating spicy food can cause an inflammatory response in your body, which can lead to spots and redness on your face. Try to avoid food which is too hot, or if you must indulge, use Dermalogica Breakout Control afterwards.

Hair Products

Hair products go on our head, not your face, right? WRONG! Hair products can spread onto your face throughout the day and can block pores and cause inflammation. Try to avoid hair products which are wax-based if you’re prone to acne, and ensure you wash your hairline thoroughly with Dermalogica Foaming Wash in the evening, once your hair doesn’t need to remain styled.

Beards

Got a partner with a beard, or worse, stubble? Well, we hate to break it to you, but spending an extended amount of time kissing and cuddling a person with facial hair can have a terrible effect on your complexion. As well as being abrasive to the skin and causing redness and irritation, beards can also harbour bacteria (unless the wearer is scrupulous about cleanliness) which can make acne worse.

The 7 Pillars of a Great Skincare Regime

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Skincare Advice, skincare routine

Knowing what to use on your skin, how often it should be used and in what order is a bit of a mystery. It would seem to be a deep secret that only a few know but no-one seems to know it all. It’s a bit like the recipe for Lea and Perrins: divided by 4 people, each know what has to be included on their part and how much – but no-one knows it all.

So we’re going to try to shed some light on the secret even though it will be in broad strokes. We will attempt to use the most common name for the product type in order that it can benefit everyone.

1. Cleanser

The Cleanser is always the first step in any skincare routine, removing debris, oils and environmental pollutants that have built up throughout the day.

A cleanser is critical for all Skincare Regimes and most, if not all should be used morning and evening.

2. Exfoliator

The exfoliator is used to remove any dead skin cells and encourage skin cell renewal. They also help to reveal the younger skin layers below which are often brighter and firmer.

An exfoliator should be used once or twice weekly in general although there are now many daily exfoliators available.

3. Masque or Mask

The masque is an intensive treatment that is designed to be left on the face for a much longer period of time. This time varies due to the ingredients in the masque and the purpose of the masque which could be to deeply nourish dry skin or intensively treat oily skin.

A masque should be used once or twice weekly generally.

4. Toner

The toner is used to re-introduce water to the skin. Dehydrated skin types are often lacking in water and require a toner to begin the process of nourishing the skin after the preparing products used before such as the cleanser and exfoliator.

A toner should usually be used morning and evening.

5. Serum

Serums are highly concentrated products that can be used to target specific areas of concern or can be used to enhance the power and benefits of your moisturiser by mixing them together.

A serum should usually be used morning and evening.

6. Eye Care

Eye creams are designed specifically to be used around the delicate eye area and are used to target concerns such as dark circles, fine lines and dryness.

An eye cream should be used morning and evening in most cases.

7. Moisturiser

Moisturisers are the final step in your skincare routine and are one of the key elements of any skincare routine along with a cleanser. They are the final step in the nourishing elements of your routine.

A moisturiser should be used both morning and evening.

In future articles we will further explore the two sides of a skincare routine and how the 7 elements work together and why it is important that they are used in this order.

Changing Seasons and Our Skin Part 3 – Moisturisers

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autumn skincare, Skincare Advice, skincare routine

Image courtesy of http://www.anamiandjanine.com/blog/

A moisturiser is one of the two most important elements in everyone’s skincare regime. Your moisturiser is beneficial in the following ways:

• Hydrate and Nourish your skin – even oily skin types
• Repair and Protect
• Replenish essential elements

Moisturisers are critical to your daily skincare regime and are always the final step in your routine.

When the weather changes one of the most common elements to look at changing will be your moisturiser. Due to the effects of the cold and the wind, combined with the drying nature of central heating, a richer moisturiser maybe needed either once or even twice a day until the milder weather comes again in the new year.

Dermalogica Moisturisers

Dermalogica have a great range of moisturisers and we are able to make recommendations for alternatives when the weather turns and you feel you could use that little bit extra.

Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion

Oil Control Lotion is designed for those with the oiliest of skin types and whilst it would be rare for this group to suffer, a great alternative would be Active Moist. It is still a moisturiser for oily skin but it is a little richer and would be useful as a next step.

Dermalogica Active Moist

Active Moist is one of Dermalogica’s top 10 products and certainly number 2 only to Skin Smoothing Cream in the moisturiser rankings. It is designed for use by normal/oily skin types and it will be people with this skin type and normal/dry skin types (see Skin Smoothing Cream) which will be more likely to make a change when the weather turns. The logical next step would indeed be the Skin Smoothing Cream and many of our customers make this change as the weather deteriorates.

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream

Skin Smoothing Cream is Dermalogica’s best selling product by far. As mentioned previously it is designed for normal/dry skin types and people in this category will tend to need to change more than any other and move to a richer cream such as the Intensive Moisture Balance or Super Rich Repair.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance

Intensive Moisture Balance is the richest of the main line moisturisers. It designed for very dry skin and is an ideal night cream when combined with Skin Smoothing Cream. If you are using the Intensive Moisture Balance and the weather is affecting your skin the last resort would be the Super Rich Repair which is the richest moisturiser that Dermalogica produce.

Dermalogica Super Rich Repair

Super Rich Repair is a good as it gets in terms of rich moisturisers. It is part of the AGE Smart Range of products and is vacuum sealed due to the nature of the ingredients and how they need to be stored before application to your skin.

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50

Dynamic Skin Recovery is again a part of the AGE Smart Range and works brilliantly in conjunction with the Super Rich Repair as a morning moisturiser.

Dermalogica UltraCalming Barrier Repair

UltraCalming Barrier Repair is a unique product and could be considered as an additional layer for anyone suffering with the weather. Barrier Repair is a moisturiser designed primarily for sensitive skin types but works in conjunction with all of the other moisturisers but especially Skin Smoothing Cream. For people who spend a lot of time outdoors during the cold weather the Barrier Repair and Skin Smoothing Cream combination is very much a winner. Simply apply Barrier Repair after cleansing and then follow with the Skin Smoothing Cream.

You can Buy your Dermalogica Moisturisers from Pure Beauty Online now.