1. GO BACK TO BASICS
Keep it simple for effective, nurturing skincare. Take a long, hard look at your beauty practices –and products by pairing your routine.
Get rid of products with astringents, like alcohol and witch hazel. And avoid foaming cleansers, which leach away our Natural Moisturising Factor.
The number of clients I see that have a rise in sensitivities is growing so I created a scent free and surfactant free cleanser brimming full of omegas, skin-brightening vitamin C-esters, healing plant hydrosols, and botanicals to help gently purify the skin and stimulate cellular turnover to deliver brighter skin
+Evoq Gentle Cleanser
2. NO HARSH MECHANICAL SCRUBS
I recommend cutting right back on physical exfoliation – so many women are using brushes and cleansing cloths too harsh for their skin-type and developing problems as a consequence.
In addition, be aware that as you age, the skin's regenerative production decreases, so over use of retinol and harsh procedures do more harm than good long term.
I figured I would support women in their multi tasking abilities with our sea pearl cleansing mask which has Exfoliating Pearls to Renew skin clarity by gently lifting and removing stagnant skin cells.
Then following up with Laminaria + Spirulina which Strengthens connective tissue while hydrating with Omega-3 Fatty Acids and amino acids to help reduce dark spots and soothe inflamed skin conditions.
+ Evoq Sea Pearl 3 in 1 Exfoliation
3. SHOP FOR THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS
As always with aging or sensitive skin issues, reading the labels of your products is a must to make sure you’re getting the building blocks you need.
All Evoq moisturizers include cold pressed oils and Vitamin C Ester, which is a biomimetic liposome to help boost collagen and ceramide production, thereby improving lipid barrier function. .
This is key because we can’t manufacture essential fatty acids ourselves, so we must obtain it through diet or topical application.
4. MIND YOUR PH
Detergents (eg. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) are my biggest no-no.
They strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving the barrier dry, exposed and susceptible to irritation.
They also have an alkalising effect on the skin, throwing off pH balance and disrupting the skin's natural processes.
“Active” acids, like salicylic acid for example, should also be avoided because they remove the top layers of skin.
5. KEEP IT COOL
Cleanse with tepid water and don’t put your face under the shower - hot water will only strip the skin, just like it does to your hair.
6. BE FREE FROM RADICALS
It’s not just about building the barrier up - you also need the ingredients that will minimize any incoming stressors to look after it in the long run.
Protecting against free radical damage can help maintain a strong skin barrier, so at Evoq, I've studied with the leading experts on how to energize certain antioxidants to 10x their effects which you can find in the Evoq Ultra Hydrating Oil.
TOP SHELF SOLUTION: ULTRA-HYDRATING ANTIOXIDANT OIL
Our clinically-studied complex brings advanced free radical squelching abilities with enzymatic help to prevent and repair damage to DNA and proteins (like collagen and elastin), allowing skin cells to live a longer, healthier, more beautiful life.
I’ve addressed both intrinsic and extrinsic aging factors with THIS Matchmaker oil.
By using biomimetic cold-pressed oils, your skin is infused with vital vitamins, nutrients, and fatty acids that act both as protectants from extrinsic aging but also work to slow down and prevent intrinsic aging factors by stimulating collagen production and rehydrating skin.
7. STRESS-LESS
Building up your barrier is not as simple as using the right skincare; think of it in the same way as you do your immune system - you need to feed its strength from all angles, mentally and physically.
Your skin is your biggest organ and needs to be looked after from the inside and out.
AS WITHIN - SO WITHOUT…. Stress is proven to slow down the skin healing process, including skin barrier recovery.
So, daily stress or poor stress management can leave the skin barrier in a permanently weakened state and accelerated aging.
8. SUPPLEMENT YOUR DIET
Essential fatty acids or omegas are essential as a supplement.
They’re anti-inflammatory and help calm the skin or soothe aggravating conditions from the inside out.
Odds are most people are abundant in omega 6 which can actually be pro inflammatory so you want to look for a 3 to 1 ratio of omega 3.
Omega fatty acids also help prevent water loss that can lead to irritation and discomfort. I take an oil form straight from the spoon, and always store mine in the fridge to keep it at its best. EFAs are very fragile and prone to oxidizing.
9. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
The healthier you are generally, the better your skin will be.
Tying into supplementation - eating omega-rich foods such as cold-water fish, flaxseed and walnuts will eventually find their way to the surface of the skin.
It’s about making every cell in the body as healthy as possible.
10. WEAR SUNSCREEN
90 percent of aging is from uv damage - therefore one of the easiest ways to protect your skin’s barrier is by wearing a daily SPF - but just like the rest of your skincare, it should be full of those antioxidants too so that as well as defending your skin against the sun’s damaging rays, it also adds protection from other environmental stressors.
Not only did I formulate the Evoq Day Lite UV protect SPF tinted moisturizer with antioxidants, I also included an active form of Vitamin D, which is a needed cofactor hormone for health and immunity
++Evoq Day Lite UV Primer