No matter your skin type, facial moisturisers are a daily skin care essential when it comes to looking after the delicate skin on your face. Depending on your skin’s needs, the right moisturiser can help to rehydrate dry skin, control oiliness or soothe sensitivity, all while creating a smooth base for makeup and helping to protect the complexion from environmental factors. Natural facial moisturisers contain nourishing and balancing plant-based ingredients designed to replenish the skin’s natural moisture levels, maintain healthy skin function and encourage cell turnover. Stay away from the nasties in commercial lotions, and choose a natural product right for you.
What to look for
When it comes to selecting any natural skin care product, the first step is to determine your skin type.
DRY: If your face feels tight, dehydrated, flaky and uncomfortable, your skin is dry. Look for deeply nourishing butters and oils such as Avocado, Coconut, Argan, Apricot, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe, and Squalane. Assisting essential oils include Rose, Jasmine, Neroli, Frankincense and Myrrh.
OILY/COMBINATION: If your face starts to look a bit shiny as the day goes on, then you probably have oily skin. This skin type may not need the hydration of a moisturiser on top of a serum, so apply a sunscreen moisturiser to protect your skin if you are outdoors. Look for balancing oils such as Jojoba, Carrot, Green Tea, Passionfruit, Rosehip, Black Cumin, Sweet Almond and avoid heavy butters. Essential oils good for oily to combination skin include bergamot, chamomile, sandalwood, petitgrain and geranium. Vitamin B3 is also oil controlling.
SENSITIVE: If your skin is prone to redness, inflammation and irritation, your skin is likely sensitive. Look for low allergenic and calming oils such as Chamomile, Calendula, Marula, Evening Primrose, Jojoba, Moringa, Shea Butter and Vitamin E. Opt for less ingredients over more.
ANTI-AGEING: If you’re wanting anti-ageing properties, some wonderful ingredients include Cacay, Rosehip, Marine Collagen, Borage, CoQ10 and Vitamins A, C, E and B5.
SUNSCREEN: Australians can currently choose between chemical and physical/mineral sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays before releasing them. These are your mainstream and well known brand sunscreens. They contain a lot of nasties that get absorbed through your skin. Natural sunscreens use minerals (such as Titanium and Zinc) to deflect the sun’s UV rays so they don’t penetrate the skin. They offer full spectrum protection and are non-irritating on the skin, and they are much safer as they contain no chemicals or synthetics.
When to apply
Moisturisers are a combination of oil and water. They’ll contain some sort of wax, emulsifier or both to bind them and create stability. Because of this, the molecular structure is larger, so they only penetrate the upper layers of the skin, which seals the skin. A moisturiser acts as an environmental barrier, protecting your skin and locking in nutrients and moisture. Using a serum underneath a moisturiser is a good idea as this adds appropriate nourishment and nutrients to the deep layers of your skin. Being smaller molecules, a serum is easily absorbed, adding essential fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants to the skin.
In winter months, it’s best to incorporate extra hydration, as the skin is exposed to extremes in temperature and has to constantly adapt from cold to warm environments.
How to apply
After cleansing and applying a toner, and serum, the final layer is the moisturiser. Glide the product across your forehead, cheeks, chin, and gently press into your skin. Bring the product down onto your neck, and the area of skin below your collarbone.
Sunshine Vitamin Day Cream
A highly nourishing moisturiser that includes nurturing oils to balance and revive the complexion, keeping the moisture locked in for the day. With a light citrus scent your skin will thank you for this natural goodness.
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