3 common Winter skincare problems
3 common Winter skincare problems
Here are the 3 most common winter skin problems and how you can take care of them to keep your skin looking its happiest and healthiest this winter time.
Remember, take care of your skin, you are going to be wearing it every day!
Does your skin feel dry and tight? If so, read on…
It's time to investigate what's going on with your skin and discover if it's dull, dry or dehydrated
Find out more about what your skin type could be
There's a big difference as you'll discover...
Dry Skin
- Dry skin doesn't contain enough oil, so it lacks sheen and plumpness.
- The look of pores can appear small.
- It can look red, sore and get easily aggravated, itchy and flaky in places.
- It can feel tight and possibly be difficult to rub moisture products into the skin.
- After a shower or bath, your skin can feel tight and itchy.
- It can feel sensitive to some skincare products, especially those containing botanical ingredients.
Dehydrated Skin
- Dehydrated skin has a feeling of tightness and dryness but can still appear oily in places.
- Pores can appear enlarged in areas.
- It quickly absorbs water in moisturisers and makeup, causing foundation patchiness and shine.
- After a shower or bath your skin looks and feels better.
Dull Skin
- Dull skin lacks lustre
- Skin Appears flat and lifeless can look grey
- May look dry dehydrated and patchy
- Skin can look textured
- Pigmentation marks
- When you look in the mirror you look tired
Here are some top tips to help.
In the winter months, humidity levels drop significantly. This is why your skin dries out in cold weather. Your skin may feel tighter, a little uncomfortable and you may see patches of flaking skin too. The key for keeping your skin as soft and supple as usual lies in your moisturiser. You may in fact need to moisturise a little more frequently in the colder weather or you may actually decide to step it up a gear and choose a different moisturiser to help your skin through a cold weather spell.
To help balance the skin try our Face Envy Superfood Cream
Our skin can often look a little paler, duller and lack a glow in the winter. Here’s the thing, you can most definitely have radiant and bright skin all year round. If your skin has become dull or there are pigmentation problems, you can benefit a lot from a skin brightening complex. The best way to increase skin radiance is to use skincare that contains antioxidants and vitamins E and C.
A serum is a brilliant way of achieving results. A serum is highly concentrated and so is able to target specific skin concerns. Our Super Serum Plus It is like a facial in a bottle, and great at tackling dull skin.
Between the cold air outside and dry indoor heating, your skin cells dehydrate and die out faster in winter. Using an exfoliator twice a week will help replenish your skin by buffing away the dead cells so new cells can be revealed.
As well as improving the texture of your skin, exfoliators improve the effectiveness of your moisturiser. Because skin is often drier in the winter, you’ll want to maximize the power of your moisturiser. You can easily do this by regularly exfoliating away the dead skin cells that block moisture from the layers of new skin cells that actually need it. Try our Flower Power Hibiscus exfoliator It exfoliates renews and hydrates in one.
You could also treat your skin to a face mask. Once a week, kick back and relax with a face mask. You relax whilst the mask does the work. or why not use it overnight ,
We love…. Our Face Envy Superfood Mask, it is a dual purpose face mask can be used as a treatment or overnight.
Get Your Glow back and Improve Barrier Function
Get Your Glow back and Improve Barrier Function
When it comes to achieving that glow, it is tempting to lean on quick fixes to brighten, tighten and firm the skin. But while zapping breakouts with spot cream, applying a face mask to hide a hangover or booking in for a laser therapy facial may help in the short term, developing lasting habits to future-proof your skin will mean you can look forward to a healthier and more youthful complexion for years to come.
Be conscious of the damaging effects of UV rays and pollution on the skin, especially if you work outside or live and work in a city. Wearing and SPF daily or using a sun hat can help
Forget me not hydrating face cream SPF 30, is a natural, chemical free sunscreen
Focusing on maintaining your skin’s water content, as many issues sensitivity, dullness, fine lines, an uneven tone and texture can stem from dehydration. Keeping your skin well moisturized will also help keep the skin barrier stay healthy and protect against both water loss and external aggressors. It contains no chemical sunscreen, so safer for the skin and the environment. It has a wonderful natural sun protection factor of 30 from Rhatany Root, a natural and organic sunscreen while Micronized Titanium reflects both UVA and UVB solar rays.
Take the Time
Take time out once or twice a week to massage give yourself a mini facial and mask. The use of massaging techniques or rollers work by encouraging circulation and improving the lymphatic drainage system, which can help your skin de-puff and rid itself of toxins. Improves blood circulation and stimulates collagen production
Try our Face Envy Superfoods face mask
Protecting the skins natural barrier is a must, the skin barrier is important to human life. Physically, it protects for external threats such as infectious agents, chemicals, systemic toxicity and allergens. A healthy skin barrier performs two very important functions. First, it helps your skin retain moisture by preventing water loss from deeper skin layers. Second, it helps protect your skin from harsh elements like UV rays, pollutants, microbes, and chemicals. Face Envy Superfood Face Mask with donkey milk, retinol, and collagen
Containing all the vital ingredients for healthy skin, a perfect platform for optimum skin health. Made with nutrient-dense superfood organic donkey milk, this high-performance, moisturizing, and hydrating superfood face mask is enriched with multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate. Argan, Andiroba, and Grapeseed oils, packed with antioxidants that replenish, soothe, rebalances, and nourish the skin, while the pro-aging, anti-acne, and photoaging skin protection benefits are provided by 99.9% purity Bakuchiol – natural retinol has been clinically proven to be as effective as synthetic retinol. Packed with vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, K), minerals, amino acids, ceramides, proteins, and omega 3, 6 & This mask offers superior hydration, smooths, lifts, nourishes, rejuvenates, renews, and exfoliates the skin.
Regain your skin barrier and reverse skin damage
The health of your skin barrier’s function is a direct result of many factors. This includes nutrition, age, your daily skincare routine, and your surrounding environment. Over time, the barrier starts degrading and gets weaker and a little worse at performing its function. To complicate matters, every time you cleanse, fats and lipids are stripped from the skin, weakening the skin’s barrier function. This brings on moisture loss, and lets in external aggravators, which further damage the deeper layers of skin by breaking down structural proteins like collagen and elastin. Over exfoliation with harsh products can also be a major cause of skin barrier issues. But we have the perfect answer with this amazing serum. Its ultra-lightweight, fast-absorbing, providing an instant boost while infusing the skin with the nutrient-dense superfood of organic donkey milk, a powerhouse for brightening dull, uneven, scarred or UV damaged skin. Three types of multi-molecular weight Hyaluronic acid provide 24-hour multi-layer hydration which creates a three-dimensional plumping moisturizing network to soften the appearance of dehydration lines. The added cocktail of ingredients including Retinal O5 combines the safe protective activity of Halorubin and Retinaturel, a strong booster of cell protection, the unique combination protects against blue light and provide anti-photo-aging activity. anti-aging, anti-acne and treats redness and rosacea.
The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen
The skin is the largest and also one of the most important organs on our body. It performs several vital functions for the body including protecting the other vital organs, bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It only makes sense to be extremely mindful of what we are putting on our skin.
The Top 12 Ingredients We like to Avoid in Our Skincare:
You only want to feed your skin nutrients and functional ingredients that best support the skin. Our concentrated formulas are powered by Raw Nature and Clinical Grade Actives proven to work by the most serious clinical and dermatology testing. Here are some ingredients that you will never find in any of our products
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ALUMINUM
Toxic metal that can have oestrogen-like effects in our systems, disrupting the healthy functioning of the endocrine system.
Usually found in almost every personal care product, especially antiperspirant deodorants.
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DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine)
Clear, colorless, viscous liquids with ammonia-like odors.
Usually found in products that foam like facial cleansers and soaps. They are also found in eye makeup , fragrances, hair products, and sunscreens.
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DMDM HYDANTOIN & UREA (Imidazolidinyl)
Preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin allergies, headaches, and loss of sleep.
Usually found in skincare products, cosmetics, shampoos and conditioners, and detergents.
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MINERAL OIL
A petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging its pores. This is incredibly harmful because it interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, therefore increasing likelihood of acne and other disorders.
Usually found in creams, lotions, ointments, and cosmetics.
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PARABENS (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl)
Not always labeled, used as preservatives, and may contribute to hormone imbalance.
Usually found almost everywhere including skincare products such as moisturizers and deodorants.
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PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
Ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin’s natural moisture factor. It adjusts the melting point and thickens products.
Usually found in cleansers to dissolve oil and grease.
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PHTHALATES
Chemicals used to increase flexibility and strength of plastics, and not often listed among the ingredients on products.
Usually found in cosmetics such as fragrance oils and listed under the term “fragrance".
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PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG) & BUTYLENE GLYCOL
Gaseous hydrocarbons which in a liquid state act as “surfactant”. They penetrate the skin so quickly and can weaken the protein and cellular structure.
Usually used to make extracts from herbs.
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SILOXANES
Look for ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
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SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES)
Detergent that makes products foam, lather, and bubble.
Usually found in 90% of personal-care products that foam!
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SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES
Anything that is synthetic or artificial should always raise a red flag. These are made up of hundreds to thousands of different ingredients not listed on the label, so you are never sure what you are actually being exposed to.
Usually found in cosmetic and skincare products but also many household products such as candles, air fresheners, and scented trash bags.
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TRICLOSAN
A synthetic antibacterial agent that may disrupt thyroid function and can degrade into a form of dioxin, a class of chemicals linked to a broad range of toxicities including cancer.
Usually found in soaps, mouthwash, shaving cream, deodorants, toothpastes, etc.
Take your skin into your own hands and always read the label! At SmartAss we prioritize ingredient transparency and traceability by working with our own lab, where we can trace every ingredient story from source to skin. If you ever have any questions about any of our ingredients, please send an email to enquiries@smartassbeauty.co.uk
Kickstart your Clean Routine
Getting Your Glow Back
Let’s look at our general health, a healthy gut, and its effect on our skin
Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones and a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Eat the correct balance of foods and you'll feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and healthy.
Ageing, wrinkles and age spots are the inevitable result of time, but skin ageing may be sped up by overexposure to the sun and tanning beds, strong facial products, that strip the skins defence barrier, chemicals, both external and internal, poor nutrition, smoking and alcohol. Treat your skin kindly and optimize your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts, and a varied and balanced diet. This should give optimal levels of the nutrients that are crucial for radiant skin, including beta carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium. Vitamin E protects skin from oxidative (cell) damage and supports healthy skin growth.
That’s where our donkey milk comes come into its own
Donkey milk is also well known to be highly digestible and due to its pleasant and sweet taste, it is also highly palatable
Donkey milk is also enriched with vitamin C (60 times more than cow’s milk), vitamins A, B1 B2 B6, D, E, C K omega -3 (linolenic acid) and omega -6 fatty acids (linoleic acid), minerals, and trace elements such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus iron, etc. Immunoglobulins (lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme) alkylglycerols are involved in immune defence. Strengthening immunity and other respiratory tract infections such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, cough, and asthma. It is also very beneficial for those suffering from bone illnesses due to a high percentage of vitamin D and calcium
Did you know we also sell our donkey milk freeze dried and convenient one 60ml daily dose provides your daily dose of nutrients as well as it anti-inflammatory benefits, and gut health
When it comes to skin issues, chronic diseases, and allergic skin conditions, acne, eczemas, psoriasis, it has calming healing and restorative effects. Donkey milk also contains a protein called Lysozyme it has the ability to cut the membrane of the bacteria so it will inhibit bacterial growth and thus providing antimicrobial and an antibacterial action
With respect to intestinal problems, donkey milk regenerates intestinal flora and fights constipation. It provides liver detoxification;
Donkey milk reinforces immunodeficiency during chemotherapy and long-term illness and it reduces fatigue and stress
Now that’s Smart!! One product so many amazing benefits Try SmartAss Donkey Milk here!
After Your Workout
How to do... Post-Workout Skincare
Your post-workout skincare routine should always start with cleansing to wash away sweat and bacteria and prevent your pores from clogging. Clogged pores can lead to breakouts called “sweat pimples”, as well as blackheads and white heads. Sweat contains salt which can cause skin irritation and dehydration, so it’s important to do this as soon as possible after completing your workout – ideally within 15 minutes.
Working out can create a breeding ground for bacteria on your skin, especially in confined spaces like gyms or with groups of people. Wash away sweat, bacteria and dead skin cells with a good quality antibacterial cleansing bar to minimise the risk of breakouts.
We recommend the Smart Ass Cleansing Bar, which is formulated with multivitamin and mineral complexes to bolster the skin’s natural defences. It also has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it the perfect post-workout skin snack!
Showering after exercise should also be an important part of your post-workout routine. It not only gets you clean and protects you from breakouts, but it can also help your heart rate and core temperature naturally decrease. Taking a lukewarm or cool shower works best.
Interesting Fact
Did you know that regular blasts in the shower with cool water can give your immune system a quick boost? Studies have found that taking a daily shower that starts warm and ends with a 30 to 90 second burst of cold water significantly reduced the number of sick days that participants used at work.
Smart Tips
🥛Always clean your face with tepid rather than hot water, as hot water can cause skin redness and inflame rosacea. You need to cool your skin down to prevent breaking blood vessels and return the skin to normal temperature.
🥛Don’t wear makeup to go to the gym - your skin needs to breathe! If it's something you can't live without then try a tinted moisturiser or mineral makeup instead.
🥛Don’t use harsh chemical-filled cleansers after exercise, as this can cause skin irritation and redness.
🥛A final rinse with cold water after cleansing can give your skin a heathy glow, as cold water tightens and constricts the blood flow.
🥛Keep hair off your face as much as possible this to prevent oils, hair products, and other pollutants from getting into pores.
🥛Finally, and most importantly - try not to touch your face! Gyms are full of other people and bacteria and it’s super easy to spread bacteria from your hands to face, hence why it’s also important to keep your hair tied back.
Best Post-Workout Skincare Products
Our Smart Ass skincare products are formulated with your lifestyle in mind. Gentle enough to prevent irritation and breakouts, and powerful enough to nourish and balance your skin, they're the perfect partners for a post-workout pamper.
Check out our favourite goodies to follow up your workout:
Face Envy Superfood Face Cream
Balance and Revitalise Shampoo and Body Bar
Pigmentation the lowdown after lockdown
If you suffer from pigmentation, don’t worry; you’re not alone. In fact, it’s one of the biggest skin concerns for women around the world.
So, whether you’ve been battling with pigmentation for years, you’ve developed the pregnancy pigmentation (a.k.a. melasma) or you’re hoping to flee to warmer climes this summer to indulge in some sunbathing. Here’s the lowdown after lockdown
What is pigmentation? Your skin gets its colour from a pigment called melanin made by special cells in the skin. An overproduction of melanin either from stress, ageing or the sun can cause melanin to overproduce, in turn leading to clusters appearing on the surface of your skin, called pigmentation.
Yes, it affects most of us. And yes, it’s not just limited to your face. It’s a common skin concern that affects people of all skin types. It can appear in smaller patches, it can cover larger areas, and in rare cases can cover the entire body. Pigmentation happens when your skin produces more melanin (the pigment responsible for giving your skin its colour) than normal. The excess pigment is deposited deep within the skin, giving it a darker look than the skin around it. The risk of pigmentation issues increases with cell ageing and generally affects the areas that are most exposed to the sun over time (face, neck, hands, etc.).
What causes it? We all know the sun plays a big part in the development of pigmentation, but there are many other factors at play. Depending on your skin type, you can be susceptible to different forms of pigmentation. For instance, post-inflammatory pigmentation happens after inflammation of the skin and follows injury or an inflammatory disorder (such as eczema, dermatitis etc.). While it’s a temporary phenomenon, it can be more intense and longer-lasting in darker skin types. For those with fair skin, freckles, which can be attributed to genetic makeup, can darken and increase in number after spending time in the sun.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there, as things like the pill, stress, and even pregnancy can add fuel to the fire. Chloasma (melasma) is when patches of dark pigmentation appear, usually on your face, and this indicates hormonal changes. It is mostly, but not exclusively associated with pregnancy hormones during pregnancy. Chloasma is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy. It is however important to note that in some cases, hyperpigmentation can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as Addison’s disease, so always get check if you’re concerned.
How can it be treated? The good news is, there are ways to treat and reduce the appearance of pigmentation. In all instances, pigmentation conditions need careful management and with our knowledge and help you’re in good hands. We have a daily treatment that is effective at resolving the visible effects of pigmentation,
What about products? When it comes to ingredients, there are a few powerhouse essentials that really can make a difference. So, when it comes to picking the perfect products, we have just what you need the UK’s first ever Superfood formulae’s, safe effective and powerful.
It is all in the composition, nothing else compare’s When it comes to Donkey Milk the benefits are vast, containing vitamins A retinol B1, B2, B6, C, D, E,K proteins ,lipids, ceramides ,omega 3 and 6, lactic acid and trace elements, this amazing composition treat dark spots, pigmentation, wrinkles ,ageing skin, inflammation, uneven skin tone, dark circles, spider veins, stretchmark’s, it exfoliates, absorbs uv rays and promotes the growth of healthy skin cells and repairs damaged skin it is also excellent in the treatment of acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis“ it promotes the correct ph of the skin to regain the correct acid mantle and protective barrier.
Retinol: This is one of the most talked-about ingredients of the decade and can be helpful in reducing the appearance of dark pigmentation spots by speeding up natural skin cell turnover. Its naturally occurring in our Donkey milk product so can be used day and night
Vitamin C: Applying a product containing vitamin C can help fade marks of hyperpigmentation for a more even-toned complexion. By using products with both vitamins C and E, you can even your skin tone while enhancing its beautiful brightness.
Super C Vitamin C Spray or our SOS daily repair
Vitamin B 3 Nicotinamide: This powerful skincare ingredient has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and even skin tone
What’s the worst thing you can do for pigmentation? Simply Not giving your skin full protection against sun exposure and environmental damage is the worst thing you can do for pigmentation. We would always recommend protection for the skin is applied daily in all weather conditions
Our daily Hydrating Forget Me Not Cream is a must pop on last after you daily routine and apply as often as required
It’s also important to avoid picking the skin after an injury or if you have acne or eczema etc. as this can also cause the affected area to be susceptible to a pigmentation condition called post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Mens Skin Care Breakouts
Sudden acne breakouts can be because of numerous reasons, including Hormonal changes or hormonal imbalance, an unhealthy diet including lots of deep fried and junk food, alcohol, the release of cortisol hormones because of excessive stress, excessive production of sebum, the use of masks and much more.
Some top tips
Make sure you get good sleep, fresh air, and exercise, including some time outside every day, Daylight increases vitamin D levels, and we need vitamin D in order for our bodies to synthesize Vitamin C.
Increase your intake of water this will help to flush toxins for the digestive system, the kidneys and liver, The stomach is known as the second brain so good gut heath and diet are important in skin health.
Cleanse your skin twice a day morning and evening.
Be careful not to use harsh products packed with chemicals, as they will strip the skins natural barrier, leading to a further increase acne dermatitis and inflammation.
Choose an option with natural AHA acids (flower peel) which all help to break down the bonds between dead skin cells, eliminating them from the surface of your skin, remove excess oil, and helps to kills the bacteria that causes acne, BHA (salicylic acid) this will help to clean out pores out and keep them clear of further outbreaks.
Overuse of exfoliators should be avoided One of the biggest causes of outbreaks is due to the disruption of the skins natural defense barrier, caused by over exfoliation too many active ingredients (skin layering) cuts scrapes bites etc. shaving.
When we shave, we are also removing dead skin cells, but shaving over and area any with blemishes or abrasions can cause further out breaks and irritation. Donkey milk is one of the best products to use not only protect the skins barrier but it natural anti- microbial anti biotic effects calms sooths and renews the skin epidermis and reduces redness immediately.
Click here to check out our sea inspired vegan range where you will find great products to treat and prevent breakouts.
Breaking out with Lockdown ???
Breaking out with Lockdown
After months of wearing masks, we are all too well aware they protect us from airborne viruses (covid-19 ) and bacteria, unfortunately for many of us the down side is an uptake in acne breakouts, skin irritations and perioral dermatitis . Breakouts caused by masks have become so prominent that the word “MASKne” has even been added to the Urban Dictionary.
So why do masks cause our skin to break-out?
Many people can see irritation from the physical friction or pressure of the material on their skin, while others will see acne and blemishes pop up.
Because masks tend to move while we are talking, we are continually touching our faces to adjust them, Even the simple act of breathing while wearing your mask causes acne, because when we breathe or talk into the masks, we increase moisture. This can result in an overgrowth of bacteria, which can create acne, inflamed hair follicles and a flare-up of rosacea and dermatitis.
To avoid blemishes, some simple changes in your skin care routine and consider what kind of mask you are wearing can help. So here is our top tips and recommendations to curb any breakouts and protect the skin barrier.
Tip……. Mask options
Try a 3-ply disposable sterile mask is our favourite mask for acne-prone skin! We always recommend disposing of them responsibly
When it comes to acne-prone skin, try to find a mask in a breathable material such as cotton, the effectiveness of cloth masks depends on the material, the fit and the number and kind of layers.
Silk is another great option, because it has antimicrobial properties and is better for people with sensitive skin. However, silk masks are not as effective at preventing the spread of the novel type of virus.
Regardless of the material, the mask needs to be cleaned regularly, both to protect yourself from the virus and from exacerbating acne breakouts. The build-up of bacteria, sweating, makeup, lip balm and natural oils can worsen acne and skin irritation when pressed against your skin. For this reason, you should start every day with a clean mask.
Tip………
When washing your mask, I first spray with an anti bac spray like Dettol, then choose a gentle detergent free from acne-causing additives like fragrances and dyes and use the hottest water possible. Make sure it is completely dry.
Tip…….
Try not to wear make-up under your mask.
Masks trap moisture, sweat, oil and dirt close to our skin, which causes acne when mixed with sweat by forcing dirt and bacteria in the pores.
Think of all the money you will save!! If you absolutely cannot skip makeup under your mask, remove it as soon as you get home.
Skin care tips……………….
Cleansing morning and night with our cleansing bar, is very important to remove any traces of debris, oil and make-up from the skin, the skin is then protected from inflammatory processes, from free radicals responsible for cellular ageing, and from bacteria.
Followed by our 98 % Serum donkey milk serum, applied regularly, it rebalances the skin in a very short time, reduces acne and inflammation on the skin. The presence of Trans-retinoic acid and vitamin A enhance the integrity and efficiency of cell immunity, a high content of lysozyme, a substance which provides a bacterial and antiseptic action and acts as an anti-inflammatory, fighting infection, healing wounds and strengthens the natural immune system. Packed with antioxidants and anti-aging properties, and an excellent treatment in the cure of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, and soothing for sensitive skin .
