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Happy City Skin| Get your glow back | The Body Shop®®

BRIGHTEN UP!SAY GOODBYE TO DULL SKIN

City life can be an exciting whirlwind of brunches, pop up bars and after work drinks, but from time to time the hectic pace of city living can start to take its toll, and your dull skin will tell you so! But don’t hang up your disco heels just yet… Simply follow our top beauty tips to transform dull dry skin into a healthy complexion. Kick off those slippers, our Facialist and Body Care Expert Vanda Serrador is here with her tips on getting your skin looking beautifully bright.

What specific skin problems or challenges do people that live in the city often face?

Being an ‘Urbanita’ is very exciting however there are a number of environmental and lifestyle factors associated with living in a city that can be harmful to our skin. Poor air quality, pollution, stress, late nights, bad diets, hard and poor water quality, less time to take care of yourselves, too much alcohol, staring at screens all day and exposure to UV rays can all lead to dull skin.
All these factors expose us to a greater amount of free radicals and can give us skin that is dry and dehydrated, as well as becoming extremely sensitive, fatigued, at risk of breakouts, and over time showing accelerated signs of ageing! Which is where products like NEW Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 PA++++ come in – it contains UVA & UVB protection, is anti-aggressor and anti-dullness. The perfect all round defence for city skin.

POOR AIR QUALITY/POLLUTION

Pollution can really clog pores; it can cause a build-up of dirt that can lead to breakouts or blemishes. Pollution also accelerates cell oxidation which can lead to dull skin with a greyish tone and an uneven texture. All of these can result in dry skin and even premature ageing.

PRODUCT OR ACTION YOU’D RECOMMEND?
Because skin is layered with a coat of harmful toxins caused by urban pollution, it is very important to have a very good cleansing routine. I would even recommend double cleansing in the evening.
Exfoliate at least once or two times a week depending on the skin type and I also find it helpful to use non-comedogenic products. I love the Vitamin E Moisture Creamthat locks in 48H hydration and gives antioxidant protection, helping to keep your skin looking healthy.

‘Hard’ water

(such as fluoride or copper in the water)

Hard water contains chemicals such as fluoride, chlorine and copper that affects the skin’s protective barrier.
These irritate the skin by stripping its natural oils. They deplete skin of moisture and nourishment affecting elasticity and radiance. They can also leave skin dry, unprotected and exposed to the UV radicals and the elements.

PRODUCT OR ACTION YOU’D RECOMMEND?
If you can’t invest in water softeners and water filters, to avoid over stripping your skin from its natural oils which can result in dry skin, I prefer using gentle cleansers. And to prevent skin irritation try not to wash your face under the shower as the water pressure tends to be too high and the temperature too hot which pushes these harmful chemicals further into the pores of your skin.protection helping to keep your skin glowing.

PRODUCT OR ACTION YOU’D RECOMMEND?
Because skin is layered with a coat of harmful toxins caused by urban pollution, it is very important to have a very good cleansing routine. I would even recommend double cleansing in the evening.
Exfoliate at least once or two times a week depending on the skin type and I also find it helpful to use non-comedogenic products. I love the Vitamin E Moisture Cream that locks in 48H hydration and gives antioxidant protection, helping to keep your skin looking healthy.

Stress

When we are stressed the body is tense and everything tends to work in a faster and volatile way affecting and minimising the absorption of water, vitamins and vital nutrients. This can result in skin that’s dry, dehydrated, depleted and in need of vitality! Stress can also affect our hormonal balance by exacerbating the production of sebum and this also, results in breakouts and blemishes.

PRODUCT OR ACTION YOU’D RECOMMEND?
Answer: When we are stressed our body is tense and so it’s good to use a restoring product at night time like the OOL Intensive Revitalising Sleeping Cream which contains not only seed oils but also a blend of powerful calming aromatic oils that nourish and destress the skin whilst releasing toxins and fatigue. No matter how busy I get at times or what goes on in my life, I always take time to relax. And, I really believe in massaging the skin and to maximise this intensive treatment combine it with my new Yoga Facial Wind Down Massage.

Watch the video here

I also advise the use of products that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients like tea tree oil in the case of breakouts and blemishes that clears bacteria and purifies the skin.

Using a computer

screen for more than 8 hours a day

Using a computer for more than 8 hours a day, over the years puts your eyes under a lot of stress causing fatigue, tension and dehydration around the eye area as well as dark circles. Doing this over the years can accelerate the ageing process.

PRODUCT OR ACTION YOU’D RECOMMEND?
Try taking as many breaks from the computer as possible. Use an eye product like our unique Drops of Youth™ Eye Concentrate, enriched with Edelweiss plant stem cells. It instantly refreshes the eye contour, and smoothes out the appearance of lines, bags and fatigue for younger-looking eyes.

Bad diet and dehydration?

Having a bad diet results in the high consumption of toxins. For instance, fast and genetically modified food can lead to inflammatory responses at a cellular level that lead to breakouts and skin imperfections. Salt, sugar, fizzy and caffeinated drinks can contribute to dry skin and water retention that lead to puffiness. Bad diets can also affect the skin tone, reduce the production of collagen and weaken the skin’s defence mechanism.

PRODUCT OR ACTION YOU’D RECOMMEND?
Answer: Changing to a balanced and healthier diet will increase your uptake of antioxidants found in fruits, vegetable and whole grains helping skin defences and preventing damage caused by the free radicals. Reduce the intake of salt, sugar and avoid fizzy drinks. Stay hydrated, drinking about 1 to 2L of water a day helps the body flush out accumulated toxins.

Any other tips of advice that you’d recommend?

Take into consideration not just what you are putting on your skin but also what is happening or changing around you and be flexible and adopt a different skincare routine when needed. If you can change your environment and your lifestyle. Take time to rest. Take advantage of the skin’s peak renewal time and make sure you are in bed by 11pm. Combine your lifestyle with a philosophy. Look at what’s around you and find a way to delicately address what it is you need to get glowing skin. Keep in mind it takes time to adjust.

sun protection decoded

We all know that sun exposure can contribute to premature ageing and dull skin, but what can you do about it? We’ve simplified the world of SPF so that you can get to grips with how to protect your skin. No jargon needed.

Learn more

YOUR NEW DAILY SKIN PROTECTOR

From the effects of the sun to the environment we live in - we’re constantly facing daily aggressors that can leads to damaged and dry skin. Introducing NEW Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 PA++++, our highest UVA/UVB protection to help protect your skin day after day.

Learn more
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