This is our first mask-free summer since the pandemic began two long years ago and we all have to put our best face forward – and all our skin. No longer can we hide that little bit of chin acne behind a mask, those blackheads that refuse to go away on your nose, or that ingrown hair or five on your legs and bikini line. To get glowing skin for summer, you’ve got to start this spring. Here’s how to exfoliate and moisturise for glowing skin, just in time for summer.
Cleansing your skin: choosing the right cleanser and technique
Choosing the right cleanser is key to getting clean skin. There are many different types of cleansers and the type you choose will depend on your skin type and any skin concerns you have.
Cream cleansers
Cream cleansers contain richer ingredients that moisturise and nourish dehydrated or sensitive skin as they cleanse. You use them by massaging them onto your dry face and rinsing the cleanser away with water or wiping it away on a cotton pad. The benefit is you don’t dry out your face and you still cleanse it but it may take some time to get used to cleansing without the traditional soap and water method – however, your skin will thank you as it won’t get that tight rubbery feel anymore!
We are biased, but Tria’s face cleanser (50 ml) is sold as part of our Super Smooth Face Kit and is vegan, alcohol-free, and unscented. It’s perfect for sensitive skin and for the environment. You apply a small amount on your face, massage it in, and wipe it away – no water necessary.
Our cleanser contains super ingredients such as vitamin E, apricot kernel oil, rice bran oil, and rosemary leaf water.
- Vitamin E is known for creating younger-looking skin and reducing inflammation.
- Apricot kernel oil is known to improve skin tone and softness, has moisturising properties, recovers skin’s radiance, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
- Rice bran oil is known for hydrating and helping the skin retain moisture, keeping skin soft and supple. It’s also known to help with skin regeneration.
- Rosemary leaf water is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, reducing skin swelling and puffiness and is often prescribed by dermatologists to cure skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
When combined with our serum (more on that later), you create a powerhouse that makes your skin look younger and refreshed.
Gel cleansers
Gel cleansers are used for normal to oily skin and provide a deeper cleanse as many are formulated to include acids that cut through oil, makeup, and pollution. You massage them onto a damp face and rinse them away. These types of cleansers are best for reaching deep into the pores and then following on with a lighter cream cleanser.
Cleansing oils
Cleansing oils act as solvents to dissolve substances similar in structure so, for example, an oil cleanser will attract oil, sebum, and makeup and dissolve them. Skin is left feeling supple and softened. Again, it might take some getting used to removing dirt and oil without water but oil cleansers get excellent reviews.
Micellar waters
Micellar water combines purified water with hydrating ingredients and mild surfactants (a mild soap, for example) which attract dirt and oil. The formulas are gentle enough not to need rinsing either and can be left on the skin.
Methods
It’s recommended always to double cleanse which is why having more than one cleanser can be handy. You can do a deeper scrub with a cleanser that requires water to remove stubborn makeup, especially eyeliner and mascara, or an oil-based cleanser and then finish up with a cream cleanser that provides an initial layer of moisture and a vitamin boost to your skin to be ready for your moisturising routine.
Moisturising your skin: butter up your buns (or face and legs)
Everyone knows the value of moisturising your skin. If you’ve ever had dry patchy skin when scratch marks (think primary school) left behind those white flaky lines like an aeroplane skywriter, then you know that a good old fashioned bit of shea butter or the like can go a long way.
In general, we moisturise to prevent losing water in the outermost layer of our skin. Moisturiser also acts as a barrier to prevent environmental damage from going into your skin, so it works two ways. Moisturiser also plumps up your skin, helping prevent wrinkles. Not moisturising your face can create deeper damage which can lead to deeper wrinkles later in life. Moisturising also helps with acne, blemishes, anti-itching, and may even help with ingrown hairs. So, you better lather up on your favourite moisturiser.
You’ll want to look for something with high-quality ingredients because, after all, it’s going on your skin. You can read here all about how our Super Smooth Leg Kit and how its power-house ingredients can rescue your dry legs from oblivion or how our Face Serum can give you miracle results even with a small amount – as a little goes a long way, which is always great for your purse.
Exfoliating your skin: going deeper into the layers
So, the triple treat of cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturising are the key to great skin but we haven’t covered “exfoliate” yet. There are three types of exfoliation: manual, chemical, and laser. So, which do you need?
You can maybe say a little of all three. You can buff away the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, which will reveal brighter layers and you can do that chemically as well with acids and peels. We wrote a piece on body and face brushing here and this piece talks about the benefits of chemical peels and other procedures. Acids and peels will get into the deeper layers of skin and can help improve your skin over time but they are often expensive and the more effective ones can only be done at a salon since the acids are too powerful for home use.
But a laser treatment, like our Age-defying laser, can repair your collagen and reduce all signs of ageing, which will work well to keep your skin glowing, plump, and moisturised for all those summer gatherings. Just don’t forget your sunscreen!
Find out more here about an NHS doctor’s experience with our Age-defying laser and how she’s noticing improvements on her face after only a single month of use!
The takeaways
Taking care of your skin can be a process but it’s well worth the investment as, after all, it does need to last you a lifetime. So, whether you want to be hair-free by summer or simply have more glowing and moisturised skin, we have the product for you. Let us know on our social media channels your favourite skincare tips to keep your skin glowing, the blemishes away, and the moisture in.