Over the past few weeks I have addressed with you the importance of nutrition, feeding your skin from the inside, the importance of exercise (I don’t mean marathon running, I am talking about a healthy walk! ), the importance of ensuring your water intake is optimal, the importance of ensuring your stress levels are under control and last, but not least, the importance of what you apply to your skin, feeding your skin on the outside.
It is difficult to get the balance right on all of the above but knowledge is your key to understanding the factors that contribute to the condition of your skin and having this knowledge equips you to take the steps needed for commencing your self care journey.
This week’s topic is 'serum'. How important is it to your skincare regimen? How often should you be using a serum and what to look for in a serum.
In my opinion, a serum should be an essential part of your skincare regimen. It has the ability to target and treat specific skin problems. The function of a serum is not only to hydrate your skin but to feed your skin with essential vitamins, omega fatty acids and nutrients that your skin requires in order to be healthy and have a lovely glow.
A serum has the ability to penetrate your skin on a deep level targeting your skin cells and carrying nutrients to the deeper layers of your skin effortlessy. Your cream based moisturiser cannot do this as it is thicker and sits on your skin, its purpose is to moisturise your skin on a superficial level.
So, what are the important ingredients your serum should have in order to provide your skin with this essential nourishment? Let's have a look.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is crucial for your skin health. It repairs the skin on a cellular level promoting skin health. It assists in reducing skin pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, reduces congestion, dullness, sagging skin, improves skin hydration.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that strengthens blood vessels, reduces redness, prevents pigmentation, evens skin tone and promotes collagen production which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that repairs skin cells, it’s a wonderful moisturising ingredient, it protects from UVA damage.
Omegas: Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9 play an integral role in the appearance and feel of your skin. They are important in assisting your skin to function as a barrier to life’s pollutants. Our body does not produce Omega 3 and Omega 6 so we need to get these from outside sources.
The following is a list of some plant based oils that contain omegas - apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, baobab seed oil, rice bran oil, rosehip seed oil, argan oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, seabuckthorn oil and chia seed oil.
Next you can decide whether you want a water based serum or an oil based serum. For me, I prefer an oil based serum that absorbs into your skin easily delivering all the above nutrients in one application. I love the fact that we can get all the above vital nutrients in one small bottle. Make sure to make a serum part of your skincare routine, twice daily!
If you would like some advice on a skincare issue you may have or if you would like a routine tailored to suit you, than please message me on [email protected] or contact me on 0871328323. I would be more than happy to help you.
