Are You Making These 4 Skincare Mistakes?

Are You Making These 4 Skincare Mistakes?

Knowledge is power, and skincare knowledge is the best of them all. Luckily, we've done the hard work for you and researched the most important do’s and don'ts when it comes to your face, so you can spend your time doing better things (like going to brunch, cuddling your dog, or taking a nap. Or all of the above).

The internet is riddled with skincare tips, tricks and myths – and it’s no wonder we get confused or make the odd mistake here and there, most of the time without even realising it! Let’s clean up our act together, starting now.

Not Knowing Your Skin Type

DON’T: While seemingly obvious, you’d be surprised how many people don’t know their own skin type and are in turn, buying the wrong products and eliminating the possibility of getting to the root cause of any skin issues they’re having altogether. Oh, and your bank account won’t be crying in the corner either when you figure this one out.

DO: Know your skin before you begin! But wait... you’re pretty sure you know your skin type but are now second guessing yourself? Try this trick to know for sure: it’s called The Bare-Faced Method and is super simple to do.

Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry with a towel. Now, the key is to wait 30 minutes to an hour to observe how your skin naturally behaves, without any products on it. After the time is up, take a look at your complexion. Is it flaking anywhere or feels tight? If so, your skin is likely dry. Or, are you shiny around your t-zone? In this case, you’d be classified as oily and are likely no stranger to the odd breakout (or 10). If you’re finding a mix of both oily and dry areas, you likely have combination skin.

Layering Your Products In The Wrong Order

DON’T: Dermatologists and beauty therapists near and far will tell you that the order of your products does (definitely!) matter, including Melbourne Dermal Therapist James Vivian. “Applying eye cream over moisturiser? Don’t let your potent and potentially expensive eye cream have to fight its way through your moisturiser.” We take this advice seriously, James is known in the industry as ‘the face whisperer’ after all. And why should your products be pitted up against each other rather than made to work together?

DO: When you buy a new product (and please do the same with your existing ones too), take the extra time to read about its ingredients, consistency, thickness and purpose to understand what position it’s going to take in your routine.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to start with your thinnest products and end with your thickest. Try this for a top tier order to follow: Cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, spot treatment, moisturiser, face oil and last but not least your SPF. Write it down! Put it on your fridge! Set a reminder on your phone! Whatever it takes to make this order stick.

Mixing Incompatible Ingredients

DON’T: So you’re buying the right products for your skin and layering them in the right order, but did you know that not all products are made to work together? Without getting too scienc-ey on you, think of it this way: you can’t force a friendship, and some friends are just better off apart.

Not all your skincare products will be best buds and that’s just a fact of life - learning how to harness the optimum results from the products you spend your hard earned paychecks on will not only save you money and time, but actually ensure you’re seeing the results you’re striving for.

Our biggest pairing faux pas? Don’t mix retinol (which repairs the skin overnight) with Vitamin C (which repairs the skin during the day), and it's best to keep your oil-based products and water-based ones in separate routines.

DO: Take the time to learn what ingredients are in your products and how these work to complement your skin. Some of our favourite product pairings? Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid is a combo that truly works harmoniously together, especially if you’re new to retinol.

Thanks to the hydrating and gentleness of hyaluronic acid (the name deceives!), it will help to minimise the irritation of highly reactive ingredients like retinol, without interfering with the process. Hyaluronic acid also pairs nicely with AHAS and BHAS for similar reasons! Importantly, SPF can be layered over any skincare ingredient, so if you’re going to use one skincare product in your whole routine, make it SPF.

Using Face Wipes Instead of a Reusable Cloth

DON’T: We need to have a chat. A heart to heart. You’re seeing someone who’s not good for you. We hate to say it, but it's for the best for everyone involved. You need to break up with your makeup wipes, for good this time. Makeup wipes, albeit convenient, do not dig deep enough to properly remove makeup, but rather wipe it around your skin. In fact, their uselessness is in their name - makeup wipes - and their below par job of cleaning shows it.

Not to mention how damaging they are to the environment when disposed. While they may seem like a great idea at the time (queue; lazy, DGAF, hungover and just want to go to bed NOW moods), makeup wipes really are better left on the shelf.

DO: Once you’ve formally dumped your previous lover (A.K.A goodbye wipes forever), it’s time to meet your new boo. Oh yes, you two are going to get along just fine, we can feel it. A product such as a reusable pad will be your eco-friendly alternative for makeup removal that reaches deep into the pores to thoroughly remove product and dirt thanks to its microfibres, and can easily be washed up to 200 times for repeat use. This will replace hundreds of single-use makeup wipes from entering landfill and waterways, meaning you’re reducing your environmental footprint whilst saving money. Great for your face, and the earth! Of course depending on your skin type, there are other great options for makeup removal such as an oil cleanser, gel cleanser or micellar water.

May 06, 2021 — Ben Goodman
Your nightly routine for your best sleep yet

Your nightly routine for your best sleep yet

Are you one of the thousands, if not millions, of people that feel that they don’t get enough sleep each night? Whilst the internet is loaded with sleep training and bedtime hacks for children, it’s forgotten that adults need these routines too! Creating an evening routine, as an adult, is one of the smartest moves you can make to set each following day up for success.

So, why are people struggling with sleep more than ever? Our day-to-day lives are high pressure environments that put stress on our minds and body’s. For many of us, feelings of overwhelm, mental fatigue and anxiety are our new normal and when it’s time to wind down and head to bed, it feels like they are working on overdrive. When we throw our addiction to our devices into the mix, our brain is overloaded with messages and activity. It’s no wonder so many people struggle to fall asleep!

By crafting a nightly routine, designed around your individual lifestyle, you’re able to encourage your body into a more relaxed state that by the time you’ve finished it, your body is ready for lights out.

Studies have shown that having an evening routine, at any age, improves our overall mood. As an adult experiencing the hustle and bustle of professional and personal life, we can easily translate better sleep hygiene into mental clarity, emotional balance and reduced anxiety and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that?

There is no rule to how long your routine should be, but it must give you enough time to unwind and relax without the feeling of being rushed through the process. This is generally around 60 minutes before lights off. Whilst the first few days may feel arduous, it’s all about consistency. Continuing training your mind and body into its new routine and reap the benefits of productivity the following day.

Set a time and stick to it

 

Now, this isn’t your bedtime but the time you’re going to begin your evening routine. Setting a time that your routine begins keeps you accountable and begins the process of creating a new habit. By setting a time, and sticking to it, you’re telling your mind and body that it is time to start winding down and get ready for an incredible night’s sleep.

The promotion of good sleep hygiene has become so important that even your iPhone now has the capability to set up these alarms and routines on your phone. When you’re just getting started having an alarm on your phone or prompts, like this, can do wonders for keeping you accountable.

Wind down with a shower or bath

 

Think about the difference between your morning shower and an evening one. During your morning shower, you’re jumping in and out as quick as you can whereas during your evening shower or bath, you don’t have to rush off to that meeting or make the morning train, so you’ve got time to enjoy it.

The relaxing feels of warm water on your body start to slow down the body and mind before bed. It’s a space that gives you a moment to reflect on your day and practice some deep breathing exercises to help you prepare for thorough rest.

Stepping out of a warm bath or shower, your body temperature significantly drops which can lead to you feeling relaxed and sleepier. This is why many effective evening routines feature the comforting warmth of a shower or bath, especially one with the added benefits of aromatherapy.

Put pen to paper

 

For many, the anxiety of either the day that was or the one to come can make it difficult to gain a good night’s sleep. When our mind feels like it’s racing with our ever-growing to-do list, we cannot effectively wind down. That’s why having a pen and paper next to your bed or even a journal can be an incredibly powerful and productive way of slowing down your mind for the evening.

By putting pen to paper, instead of typing it on your phone or computer, you’re limiting potential distractions. Notebooks don’t have emails, messages or games!

Handwriting tomorrow’s to-do list, things to remember, creative ideas that have come to mind or a reflection on the day that was get those things out of your racing brain and out onto paper for you to pick back up tomorrow. Not only is this incredibly cathartic for people that experiencing stress and anxiety but it’s super productive too! Many find that when they begin the following day, they’re already set up for success with a list of goals to accomplish.

Break up with your device

 

This is the big one. More than ever, we’re in committed relationships with our devices. From laptops, smartphones, watches to tablets, we’ve got access to the world at our fingertips whenever and however we like.

Some of the habits we’ve created, like scrolling social media until just before you fall asleep, are setting us up for a difficult night’s sleep. Not only is our imagination running wild with what we’ve been consuming (which attributes to nightmares) but the blue light emitting from our devices stimulate our circadian rhythm, aka our body’s internal clock.

The blue light from our devices keeps our minds buzzing and whilst you may feel like it’s easy to fall asleep after hours of scrolling, the quality of sleep you’re experiencing is very poor. It has been proven that the blue light emitted from our devices reduces our levels of melatonin and delays our REM cycle. That’s why our leading advice when establishing an evening routine is to set serious boundaries with your devices.

To assist you in waking up the next morning and limit your technology distractions, we recommend charging your phone at night somewhere other than your bedside table. That way, when your alarm goes off in the morning, you have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. If you’re well and truly ready to break up with your device, switch it out for an old school alarm clock and charge your phone in an entirely other room! The technology addiction is real so we know you may have to work your way up to this one.

Get your best night’s sleep yet by implementing these steps to a solid evening routine tonight! Even if you only tick off one of these items, you’re pointing yourself in the right direction for better sleep hygiene and a happier, clearer mind. Sweet dreams!

April 30, 2021 — Ben Goodman