It’s that time of the year again – when the sun heats up and we go in search of a skincare regime to protect, nourish and keep our skin hydrated and glowing during summer. Good asked Kim Bowkett-Moore from Combie and Price for expert advice and recommendations.
Good asked Kim Bowkett-Moore from Combie and Price for expert advice and recommendations.
What is the biggest skin concern for women during the summer months in New Zealand and why?
With our harsh sun, being able to protect our skin from burning and drying out are real concerns for NZ women, The more damage to your skin cells from sunlight that you can prevent, the better your skin will be for years to come. The drying effects of sun on the skin start to show in tiny lines of dehydration making your skin look dull, tired and well just a little old!
A must-have product for summer and why?
Keeping a toner on hand for the ultimate freshen up either during the day or after cleansing. Gone are the days of one toner fits all, use a toner to remove any surface impurities left after cleansing and to minimise pores. Forget those harsh, skin-stripping astringents of the past that relied mainly on alcohol to dry out skin. Today’s toners use a gentler approach, turning to botanical ingredients and essential oils that work as natural astringents while also hydrating and soothing skin.
We recommend: Sukin Oil Balancing Clarifying Facial Tonic to help balance and refine the skin with ingredients like white tea, pomegranate and bilberry. Also try: Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner that you can use several times a day as a gentle hydrating mist either under or over make-up.
What do you think is the biggest step women forget to do with their skincare routine?
Exfoliate. Exfoliating is crucial to achieving a healthy summer glow. Not only will it effectively polish and stimulate the surface of your skin, it also promotes healthy cell regeneration.
We recommend: Sukin Super Greens Detoxifying Facial Scrub for your face and Sukin Energising Body Scrub, Coffee and Coconut for your body twice a week.
What can women do to have glowing skin all year round?
Remember a little time can make a huge difference, so take an extra 10 minutes once a week to apply a facial mask, whether it be to purify and detoxify the skin or something more indulgent. The small time spent doing this will make a huge difference on your skin in the long term. Another quick fix is the application of a skin oil prior to your moisturiser. Because oils are lipophilic, they can penetrate deep into the skin, trapping water and other moisturising goodness in, while keeping toxins and other nasties out. Some oils also help to fortify and strengthen our own natural skin barrier. This is especially important for city dwellers who need extra protection against pollutants and smog, a known source of unwanted wrinkles. Many oils have anti-inflammatory properties as well, helping to calm irritated skin.
We recommend: Sukin Hydrating Facial Masque, and Sukin Restoring Argan Oil, which contains a beautiful blend of oils like Maracuja and Rosehip to brighten and soften the skin while Jojoba Oil locks in moisture to keep skin supple and smooth.
Take an extra 10 minutes once a week to apply a facial mask, whether it be to purify and detoxify the skin or something more indulgent.
Why is natural skincare the way to go for taking care of your skin?
As the largest organ of the body, your skin not only absorbs lots of nutrients, but it can also take in a number of toxins each day. Since your skin acts as your body’s barrier against those toxins, it’s so important to be aware of just what you’re using! If you’re putting dangerous ingredients on your skin, you can bet those are getting into your body—exactly where they don’t belong.
Any other tips besides investing in quality skincare for achieving healthy skin?
Maintaining a healthy diet. Your skin has a natural barrier to retain moisture, and essential to that is omega-3 fatty acid. Flax seeds on your salad or even walnuts will be an instant boost to your omega-3, thus increasing your skin’s ability to hold onto moisture.
Drink more water. The fact is that skin is an organ, and just like any other part of the body your skin is made up of cells. Skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are made up of water, without water the organs will certainly not function properly or at their best. If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky.