Festive Skincare

Dec 2 2014

Summer Spy

3 min read

Festive skincare2

When it comes to protecting your skin from the cold, harsh winds and winter sun the Scandinavians lead the way. Summer Spy travelled to Swedish Lapland recently and got the gen…

Lips

We often overlook lip care in the moderate UK climate, but the cold and stronger winds can easily damage your lips and leave them chapped and sore.

Your lips are different to the rest of your skin. Your skin is made up of three layers; the dermis, the epidermis and the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the top layer which protects the others, and this is much thinner on the lips.

You can lose up to 10 times more moisture through your lips than elsewhere on your face, so getting your lip care right will help you through the winter months.

Dermatologists often recommend an emollient balm or ointment over a waxy stick as they tend to keep the lips moisturised for longer. If you like to keep your products natural, seed oils and shea butter are great for the lips. Hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA are also both good options for intensive moisturising.

Most importantly, looking after your lips is about creating a barrier between the fragile skin and the environment. Make sure you top up to keep that protection going.

The Spa Spies have reviewed and rated our favourite lip care products, check out the results below!

Blemish fixes

There are so many parties to go to, so many people to see, that keeping blemishes under wraps is key during the festive season. We won't mention chocolate abstinence here… It's Christmas you're allowed to treat yourself and others.

While you may instinctively want to zap any blemishes, your skin may already be very dry from the cold outside and the warmth inside. Using treatments that include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are very effective at drying out the skin, but they also cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate. The drier your skin gets, the more irritated it will be too.

It's a bit of a catch 22, so try to regulate the products you use. A spot treatment, rather than an all over cleanser will give your skin a break. There are also some really good clearing moisturisers available, so look for an oil-free or oil-controlling version to keep your skin moisturised but clear.

Look after your eyes

The skin around your eyes is similar to the skin on your lips; it is fragile and relatively thin. The 12 muscles in your eyes are continually in motion with the average person blinking 10,000 times a day.

If you want to plump up your skin, look for a cream that includes collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives your skin its firmness. As you age, your body produces less and you may want to bump up production with skincare products or supplements. Read more about ways to boost your collagen levels.

Keep your lips kissably soft this festive season. Here are our favourite lip care products for inspiration:

Bamford Botanic Lip Balm
"It feels like a mini luxury I can reach for at any moment of the day!"
 

Decleor Aroma Solutions Nourishing Lip Balm
"It is noticeably better than a stick balm and smells delicious."
 

JustBe Soft Lip Balm
"It’s protective, nice to apply and packed with a natural minty punch."
 

Lanolips 101 Ointment
"The balm gives good and long-lasting coverage, and is entirely gentle on the skin."
 

Voya Balmelicious Vanilla and Peppermint
"It was really good quality and you can feel it when you apply it."
 

Spy12

Summer Spy

2nd December 2014

Spy Likes:

Warmth and sunshine; spas which take me away to another country; fruit infused waters; beach-worth pedicures; deep tissue massages.

Spy Dislikes:

High footfalls; treatments that over promise and under deliver; heavy lunches; loungers drapped in used towels.

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