By now, you may be familiar with the term “isolation skin”. Defined as the result of living through a global pandemic, this condition may result in breakouts, flakiness and dull and uneven skin tone. It is caused by a combination of dehydration and lack of vitamin D, and, as Helen Robb-Lacey, CEO, endota Wellness College explains, stress is also a major contributor.
“When we are feeling stressed, our bodies release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol,” explains Robb-Lacey. “Both these hormones speed up the heart rate, elevate blood pressure, break down collagen and elastin and compromise the skin of water and nutrients. Your skin needs care and nourishment during times of high stress so it can be nurtured and utilise beneficial ingredients to improve its condition. Spending time taking care of your skin can assist with lowering your stress levels, which is going to benefit your whole body and mind.”
If your skin has gone haywire over the last few months, the best thing you can do is go back to basics – and that includes getting regular facials. If you’re unable to pay a visit to the salon anytime soon, it’s important to get your at-home routine correct. Here, Robb-Lacey shares her facial tips and tricks to ensure your complexion gets glowing in no time:
Step 1: Cleanse your skin thoroughly
“Firstly, set the ambience for self-care with your favourite candle or diffuser and any music you enjoy winding down to. Have the products you need on hand, a towel, and access to warm water. You will also need to use a headband to keep your hair off your face.
“Start with your cleanser – this is going to remove dirt, pollution and makeup from the face. With damp hands, apply a small amount and start to massage all over the face, up the neck working around the nose and chin and across the forehead. You can speed these movements up to really stimulate circulation and break down any makeup.
“Use warm water to remove all the cleanser. I like to use our cleansing cloths for this step to help remove the product. I always recommend repeating this step with a second cleanse to break down any deeper dirt and excess sweat, then repeating the removal process.”
Step 2. Exfoliate
“Now it’s time to remove built up dead skin cells with an exfoliant. Apply the product to damp hands and use in gentle circular movements to lift and remove cell build up. Focus around any areas of congestion and work around the sides of the nose and chin and around the jawline and across the forehead. Use warm water to remove all the exfoliant and ensure no product or granules are left behind.”
Step 3. Mask it up
“The next step is a treatment mask – this is when you can get instant results and rejuvenate the skin. Apply your mask all over the face, the neck and on the décolletage. Let the nourishment sink in for 10-15 minutes while you enjoy a herbal tea, listen to a guided meditation or even soak your feet in some warm water and bath salts. Use warm water to remove all the mask and pat dry the face.”
Step 4. Seal in the ingredients
“Your finishing products will seal in hydration and continue to feed active ingredients into the skin. Application of your treatment serum will target specific skin concerns and work at a cellular level to improve the skin. Apply a small amount of serum to the fingertips and press into the face and neck.”
If you’re looking for a product that is not only nurturing but also packed full of essential vitamins and organic oils, the endota spa Multivitamin Treatment Oil is your go-to. Described as a “nurturing facial in a bottle”, this nifty product blends argan, rosehip and avocado for the ultimate balancing, soothing formulation.
“The delicate eye area also needs nourishment from hydrating eye creams. Use your ring finger (gives the lightest pressure) to pat your eye cream around the eye, following the direction of the eyebrow and take it right out to the temples.
“Finish by pressing your moisturiser with your hands into the face and neck and smoothing out across the whole face.”
Robb-Lacey recommends carefully reading the labels of each product to ensure they’re used correctly, and avoid using too many active ingredients during such a sensitive time.
“It can be tempting to want to exfoliate and use ingredients such as retinols every day, but we can cause damage to the skins barrier by overuse, which can result in redness, dehydration and sensitivity,” explains Robb-Lacey. “Remember to keep your exfoliation to one to two times a week and your retinol products to what was recommended by your beauty therapist. Also avoiding squeezing any breakouts as this can further damage the skin, spread bacteria and leave acne scarring. Treat breakouts with purifying masks and blemish treatment serums.”
Lastly, Robb-Lacey recommends ensuring you continue with a healthy skin routine, which includes indulging in “a full facial each week”.
“Daily cleansing, serum, eye care and moisturiser is the key to getting on top of your skin concerns,” adds Robb-Lacey. “A skin analysis and consultation each season with a qualified beauty therapist will ensure your routine is appropriate for your skin and your treatment plan is designed to get the results you want.”
Brought to you by endota
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