Do you sometimes find that your moisturiser just doesn’t seem to be doing the job? You’ve bought a new, much hyped product, and you don’t get what all the fuss is about?

One common mistake is to moisturise when your skin is dry, your skin should be clean and slightly damp for the best results. Damp skin will help lock in the moisture, it really needs to penetrate the skin which it won’t do if the skin is dry.

Make sure you apply the moisturiser with clean hands! Sounds obvious, but I bet it’s something you forget occasionally.

Do you apply your moisturiser as gently as you should? Often we slap it on quickly and give it a quick rub, the skin on your face and neck is very thin and more sensitive than the rest of your body and needs to be treated accordingly.

Don’t forget your neck and décolletage, ensure you rub it in with an upward motion. The skin here is just as delicate and thin and a facial moisturiser will work better than a body one.

Does your moisturiser contain any harmful ingredients? All the marketing will of course say no, but maybe you need to check. Sulfates for example can actually dry out your skin in the long run, literally the opposite of what you’re trying to do.

We love Dermalogia products at Glow Concierge, try a facial with Laura to see how you like their products, or you can order directly with Dermalogica and take advantage of your Glow discount of 10% using the code glow10 (code is case-sensitive)

Your Glow Concierge

Is your skin experiencing a summer hangover? It often happens that, as the humidity of the air lowers in the autumn, the skin starts losing its fresh summer looks and becomes dry. In this article, we’ll see how we can help our skin adjust to the new cooler weather.

In autumn, not only our skin but also our bodies go through some adjustments. The immune system suddenly gets more factors to fight with and less support from the sun. Therefore, the skin barrier can get quite fragile, resulting in the increased sensitivity and dryness. Moreover, the “damaged” barrier can let more pollution and other external aggravators deeper into the skin – increasing the chances of inflammation and redness.

Here are some tips to help you reinforce your natural skin barriers:

1 CLEANSE

Life in the city is not easy on our skin. Even in Switzerland, you can find some pollutants that would eventually settle on the skin. Cleaning the natural dead cells as well as the accumulating “debris” ensures that none of your pores is open and ready to receive the next cream or serum. Cleansing cream or milk fitting to your skin type is a great choice to nurture the skin while cleaning it.

2 MOISTURIZE

Changing temperatures can exhaust and dry the skin. Moisturizing brings in that extra vitamins, oils and liquids that the skin might be missing. It’s important to remember to choose the moisturizer fitting to your skin type. Choose lighter creams if you tend to have oily skin. Vogue suggests “looking to ceramides and lipids to prevent moisture loss and retain hydration…”. Such moisturizers “create a layer over the skin and stop water escaping”

Creams with Vitamin C are also great for brightening dull-looking skin and hyaluronic acid for an instant hydration hit.

3 EXFOLIATE

Scrubbing is perfect for removing dead cells, improving blood flow and smoothening the skin. But don’t run to your favorite mechanical scrub yet. Your skin is already damaged by the weather, and strong rubbing is the last thing it needs right now. They will only create micro-tears and damage the natural barrier even more.

In autumn, go for some professional chemical scrubs with acids. Of course, great caution is needed while using acids. But they are perfect for polishing the skin and making it smooth. Lactic acid is a great chemical exfoliant, as it hydrates at the same time as exfoliating. And mandelic acid works great with acne-prone skin and fights inflammation.

It’s best to consult with a dermatologist or with your facial provider before going for acidic skincare. They can tell you what your skin needs and help find the products that may not be on the pharmacy’s shelves. It’s also crucial to use the right rebuilding products after exfoliating.

3 WEAR SPF EVERY DAY

If you don’t feel the sun it doesn’t mean it’s not shining. The damaging UV rays can reach you even if it’s not 30 degrees outside. Include a cream or oil with an SPF factor against UVA and UVB rays to protect yourself from micro ageing symptoms and skin cancer.

4 EAT HEALTHY

Our skin reacts to both outside and “inside” factors. Taking extra care of it while you feel stressed or don’t eat healthily is important. Autumn is a great season for eating fresh, local vegetables and fruits. Support your skin from the inside out, and maybe it’ll not react as aggressive to the changing temperatures.

A refreshing or highly moisturizing facial once a month can reinforce your skin barrier and keep it balanced. Our Providers know a great deal about skin products and can always consult you on your personal needs during the treatment.

Your Glow Concierge

TOP AUTUMN FACIALS FROM ANDREI:

Firming Vitamin C Facial – Vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen fibers and protects the cells from free radicals, regenerates cells and prevents excessive skin pigmentation. Fights dull-looking skin and reinforces its natural glow.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Facial– A relaxing, non-invasive treatment which is recommended for everyone, no matter the time of the year or your age. It has a regenerative effect on the on your face and neck wrinkles, it hydrates the skin, reduces spots, and it gives you a glowing, healthy looking complexion. Glow Concierges Favorite!

Therma Vital Mineral Facial – A treatment recommended for all skin types, including acne and sensitive skin. Using an abundance of vitamins and mineral, this treatment quickly detoxifies, hydrates, revitalizes and regenerates a dull complexion, sensitive or problematic skin. A great booster in winter and autumn.

For any facial with Andrei, you can choose between a foot and hand massage or a neck and shoulder massage while the mask is on.

Living with acne is NOT easy. It’s a life full of trying to find out what’s good for you and what makes you look like a teenager going through puberty. In fact, many people believe the sun calms down their acne. But there’re also ones who are convinced sunlight is not good for their skin. So which one is it?

This article is only about the relationship between sunlight and acne-prone skin. To find out more about the general effects of the sun and the UV rays read this article.

Positive effects of the sun

As we get tanned it can often seem that the condition of the skin gets better. The blemishes are not seen as much and everybody’s happy. Speaking of being happy, when exposed to the sun our bodies produce serotonin – the “happy hormone”.

Sun radiation also has an anti-inflammatory effect. In the right amounts, it facilitates regeneration and repair. The need for protection from the UV rays makes our skin readjust and adapt to the changing conditions, which can often be beneficial.

It is quite easy to get distracted from your skin condition under these circumstances. The sun temporarily dries out our skin and it feels like the perfect effect. But what happens inside the skin?

Negative effects of the sun

So, you’re in a good mood, enjoying the warm days, forgetting to put the sunscreen on…. What can go wrong? Acne-prone skin is usually oily, meaning it produces too much sebum and overreacts in situations where normal skin would not. When exposed to too much sunlight even oily skin can get dry. In response to that the sebum-producing glands under the skin go into overdrive leading to blemishes.

It has also been proven that excess sun exposure can disturb the natural process of dead skin cells being shed. As a result, excess sebum does not find its way out and accumulates in the pores, creating camedones.

The bottom line

As good as it might seem in the beginning sun can be damaging for the skin. The anti-inflammatory effects do not last long and after they stop you really start seeing all those clogged pores and blemishes.

Sun protection is crucial for any kind of skin but even more so for the acne-prone one. We recommend choosing mineral-based sun protection, as it does not penetrate the skin, shielding it from the UV rays and not changing the pH levels.

Consulting a professional once a month can also be beneficial. Even a short visit for a cleansing facial can become filled with worthless advice on skincare and your personal needs.