Beauty is only skin deep but I do notice that many customers feel much better about themselves when their skin looks bright, radiant and glowing. In my natural and organic skincare recipes, there are a few ingredients and ways that can help to brighten our skin - and Spring is a great time to start your brightening regime.
Start by cleansing your skin – morning AND night...
At night you need to remove make-up, SPF and daily dirt and grime. It’s at night that our skin repairs itself so make sure you give it a chance by preparing your skin by thoroughly cleansing it. We sweat in the night so in the morning it is important to have a fresh, clean canvas for your daily skincare.
Clean, clear and well-balanced skin instantly looks brighter. If you use an organic cleansing balm or cleansing oil like Clean Sweep or I Can See Clearly Now, your skin will also benefit from this being massaged into your skin and this in turn can help to brighten and boost radiance.
Exfoliation is key to bright skin and something we can sometimes get wrong...
Firstly it’s important to be gentle. There’s a misconception amongst some people that you need something quite abrasive. But you are not scrubbing a dirty pan so there’s no reason to use harsh or abrasive products or ingredients.
There are different types of physical exfoliant ingredients which you can feel when you put them on your skin. Often nut shells are finely ground up and sometimes fruit stone kernels from things like peaches and apricots are used. Whilst these can feel like they are giving your skin a good scrub, they can cause damage as they can be too abrasive. Softer, but just as effective, are jojoba grains made from jojoba wax. These are what I use to make my effective face scrubs and because they are totally spherical; they glide over your skin and gently polish your skin without damaging your skin.
A lot of customers who try a sample of Scrub Up say that it feels too gentle and they want something harsher but there really is no need for harsh exfoliants. Please trust me, your skin will be so much happier and just as bright when you exfoliate with these little grains of wax.
I combine these grains with natural fruit acids (also known as alpha hydroxy acids and often shortened to AHAs) and papaya extract. The acids I use are a combination of malic, lactic, glycolic, citric and tartaric acids and they are derived from bilberries, lemons, oranges, sugar and maple. These acids, together with a papaya enzyme, work together to dissolve dead, dull skin. Our skin renews itself all the time but the speed at which it does this, slows down as we get older. These acids and fruit enzymes can help speed up this renewal, but you can’t feel them doing it. With regular exfoliation, you will find your skin looks brighter and more radiant. There’s an added bonus that any serums, oils and creams you use will also be better absorbed and more effective.
Try exfoliating a couple of times a week in the evening after cleansing. Scrub Up is suitable for most people but I don’t recommend it if your skin is very sensitive or if you have rosacea.
It's time to look on the bright side...
If your skin is super sensitive, a brightening face mask is a good alternative to an exfoliator. Look on the Bright Side is naturally brightening and a great weekly treatment for everyone. I use 10% vitamin C in this mask and vitamin C is great for brightening your skin and can help to even out skin tone. Papaya and pineapple enzymes dissolve dead, dull skin and the white clay is good for clearing your skin. Mix this mask with a couple of drops of Bloom & Glow face oil and some of your favourite serum or toner and you’ll find your skin looks and feels softer, smoother and more radiant.
Many customers are looking to remove wrinkles but for me, bright and radiant skin is the holy grail. I use a lot of brightening ingredients in my serums, oils and night balm. When skin is glowing, bright and radiant; the wrinkles and lines seem to fade into insignificance. Look out for ingredients like avocado and rice bran to awaken tired and dull skin; pumpkin which is rich in zinc; sea buckthorn and bisabolol to calm inflamed skin and give your skin a wonderful and gorgeous glow.