Makeup artist and expert Neelam Keswani enlists the top 5 natural/organic skin defuncts during the summer.
When the sun is shining bright and the tides are running high, when par spaces are getting scarce and traffic is running dry, that’s when the city knows it’s descended into Summer. With the heat of beach parties and summer travel on the way, the condition of one’s skin can go into a funk. Makeup artist and expert Neelam Keswani, the founder of Glamazle.com premier hub for makeup, beauty and skincare in the region, enlists the top 5 natural/organic skin defuncts during the summer, and their solutions:
- Dry and Sallow skin
The sun is great for all the added Vitamin D it gives, but the humid air during summers in Dubai tend to dry out the skin, leading to flaking of the skin that can ultimately result in a chalky looking base and cakey makeup application. This is only aggravated by in-door air-conditioning and the use of coolers and humidifiers. The easiest way to combat this is to moisturise the skin from within by drinking adequate amounts of water during the day, and from the outside by using a light day moisturiser and a revitalising night-time moisturising cream. This keeps the PH levels of the skin balanced and ensures the skin looks plump and hydrated, always.
Try: La Vallée Ultra Moisturing Night Cream – The ultimate formula in regeneration, rehydration and anti-aging, Ultra Moisturizing Night Cream intensely replenishes skin at a cellular level. Enriched with moisture-rich ingredients, your skin will feel exceptionally smooth and look utterly radiant. Apply a generous layer to the skin after skincare before going to bed.
2. Sunburns
Oftentimes the summer time can mean long days out under direct sunlight, which renders one susceptible to sunburns. Sunburn is the most obvious sign that you’ve been sitting outside for too long. But sun damage isn’t always visible. Under the surface, ultraviolet light can alter your DNA, prematurely aging your skin. Over time, DNA damage can contribute to skin cancers, including deadly melanoma. Taking care of the skin before and after exposure to the sun is very important to ensure the skin is protected from the being stripped off moisture and burning during sun exposure. I personally recommend using higher concentrations of SPF, which can be distributed among primers and moisturisers or skin bases, and one of my favorite products is The Balm’s Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 18. It’s also important to use gel based makeup, as they have a smooth consistency and a hydrating and youth-boosting effect on the skin, and will be less streaky than most watery foundations.
Try: Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF30|PA+++, 60mL (2.0 oz.) This is a powerful, antioxidant-rich daily moisturizer that shields and revitalizes environmentally stressed skin. Apply a coin-sized amount to the face, neck and décolletage about 30 minutes prior to sun exposure for maximum protection. Mario Badescu After Sun Cooling Gel is perfect to calm the skin down after sun exposure. The lightweight, non-greasy gel is easy to apply too—making it perfect for refreshing summer skin or providing relief after a day of too much sun.
3. Rashes and Pimples
With spring-summer on the way, pollen and other allergens start to obliterate the air, and can often cause dry-rashes and clogged pores, leading to abscesses and pimples. Changes in temperature can cause those with oily skins to produce further sebum in the T-zone of the face, and those with dry skin may find fine white heads and blackheads on their faces, arms and neck. Korean beauty products are ideal as they are all-natural products. I personally use Korean beauty brand Nature Republic which offers various products such as a misting spray and an aloe gel that keep the skin hydrated, while their mud masks open up the pores and help clear out dirt. I advise using a mud mask over a clay mask, and the main difference between the two is that mud a skin-healing agent, while clay is a cosmetic, drying skin agent. Clay masks are most useful for someone who has oily skin and is prone to breakouts of acne and blemishes. Mud is water-based, so the product in mask form is more hydrating than drying.
Try: Nature Republic Mud Mask or Boscia Luminising Charcoal Mask.
4. Fungal infections of the skin
Fungal infections of the skin are very common and include athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, and yeast infections. The root cause for these is that often bacteria and sweat accumulate under tight clothing or footwear during the summer, and when they stay in an area for a prolonged period, they tend to react with the skin causing painful fungal infections and sores. It’s ideal to wear casual, cotton clothing, well fitted clothes and shoes, and to slough off bacteria and dead skin with organic soaps.
Try: Khadi Natural Basil Scrub Soap. This soap is enriched with basil and other herbal ingredients. It is a very good exfoliator and helps in deep exfoliation of the skin, removing all the dirt and impurities from the pores and the skin. It has anti-bacterial properties which help in getting rid of the bacteria and germs. It keeps the skin clean and clear. It makes the skin soft and keeps it moisturized. It is SLS and paraben free.
5. Itchy Scalp and irritated roots
Similar to fungal infections of the skin, an itchy or scaly scalp is caused either by excessive production of sebum, usually caused by soaps and shampoos that strip off the natural oils of the scalp; or by excessively dry scalp that lacks adequate nutrition due to chemical soaps, the dryness in the air and lack of a fibre-full diet. On the inside, adequate hydration, calcium and potassium-rich foods will definitely strengthen the hair and calm irritated roots, but using an all-natural shampoo to keep the PH levels of the scalp balanced is the ideal cure to this summer skin problem.
Try: Khadi Neem and Aloe Vera shampoo for an irritated scalp and dandruff, and the Khadi Shikakai and Honey shampoo for dry to combination scalp types for thick, healthy looking hair.
Source: www.glamazle.com
Bio: Neelam Keswani, the founder of Glamazle.com premier hub for makeup, beauty and skincare in the region