Sensitive Skin
In this edition the mighty Beauty Terrorist takes on your environmental stress and the increased levels of skin sensitivity, caused by international travel and city living. The truth, quite literally hurts so on hand to help is our mutual friend and skin care expert - Dermalogica. Brace yourselves.
Story Highlights
- Do You Have Sensitive Skin?
- So What Can I Do?
- The Products
- The Cost
Do You Have Sensitive Skin?
The term sensitive skin is being bounced around more than ever but the cold hard truth is this - few people are actually born with real sensitive skin - the type which readily flushes and is prone to stinging, and irritation. So the 50 to 90 percent of everyone surveyed by the skin experts might say they have sensitive skin but the cause of their irritation is something that's a world away from genetics.
In reality you skin might feel different because it's become sensitised to factors in your environment or lifestyle. Causes include exposure to chemicals in the water, climate chang from season to season, exposure to certain cosmetics, the stress levels, emotions and diet of your lifestyle, and hormones. In other words these factors can make the skin hypersensitive which leaves it exposed and vulnerable to irritation, damage and premature ageing. Bad times.
So What Can I Do?
Well I'm glad you asked because the longer you leave irritated skin, the harder it is to reverse the damage being done. Basically you need something that's going to treat both the symptoms and the underlying problem - at the same time. You need a product that (a) isn't tested on animals just for cosmetic benefit (b) will last a long time giving you value for money and (c) comes from a brand that knows what it's talking about. This is where Dermalogica gracefully enters the ring.
Dermalogica's skin care lines are developed specifically by the International Dermal Institute and based on what they found out, they've created an entire range just to soothe irritation, return the skin to a normal state and protect it against future problems. Said range focuses on the stratum corneum - the outermost layer of the skin, which feels sensitive because the evil environment weakens the skin's natural defence barriers. Anyway enough: “here comes the science” and on to the fun stuff - the products!
The Products
I got a bit excited when I picked up the new Environmental Control System range and it wasn't just because the packaging is transparent in the fashion of space age, funky times. The full collection includes the Ultra Calming Cleanser for your face and eyes, a Soothing Protection Spray - that acts as your toner and the Barrier Repair Cream which I'm going to label as a moisturiser. Together they slowly but surely work to soothe, hydrate and repair reddened skin, rebuild the natural barriers and basically make you strong enough to withstand all future, environmental assaults.
Each product contains a patented: “Anti-Ozonate Complex” which in - you and me talk - is a kick ass anti-oxidant. It's very important that the products you use protect your skin from ozone pollution, which is one of the strongest-known oxidising agents. Dermalogica does. They even throw in green tea, liquorice, oats, marshmallow, raspberry, sage and red clover - all to sedate irritated skin!
Better yet the anti-oxidants in these bad boys include vitamin E, hybrid sunflower oil and Water Lilly extract, which protect the skin and fight off damage from pollution, UV rays and second-hand smoke. Barrier Repair is based on an anhydrous (read waterless) formula because most hypersensitive skin even reacts to water.
The Cost
I'm not going to lie to you and say these are the most budget friendly products around, but then why spend a fortune in the long run on products that don't work? Why not invest in a proven solution and products that last beyond three months, even when you use them twice a day?
The Ultra Calming Cleanser comes in a 250ml bottle so this one goes in the hold - not your hand luggage! If your skin is too sensitive for water you don't have to rinse it off, because cotton wool removes it too. This one weighs in at £19.40 and lasts forever.
The Soothing Protection Spray offers an instant cooling effect at £20.40 for 237ml and Barrier Repair, the incredible waterless moisturiser, works to repair damage and nourish, costing £24.60 for 37ml. Go forth and glow.
- Rob Savage
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