Types of Skincare Products to Steer Clear of

We’re proud that none of our products contain any harsh chemicals, and it's exciting to see other leading skin care professionals hopping on the same chemical-free train. But with all of the different skincare products out there, it can quickly become overwhelming when deciding which one to go with.

The good news? Knowing some of the red flags to look out for when making your decision can make this process much easier. 

Here are a few to keep in your back pocket:

Heavy Fragrances

In general, the way fragrances in skincare products are regulated can get a bit tricky. Many of the ingredients that make up a heavy fragrance tend to fly under the radar, and can be filled with tons of spooky synthetic and allergy-provoking chemicals. 

So what's a person to do? Look for products that utilize natural oils or allergen-free fragrances (much like our own), and brands that are transparent about the ingredients that go into their products. Hey, if the shoe fits. 

Heavy Exfoliators

Exfoliating is incredibly important. But we’ve said it before, and we still stand by it: there is such a thing as too much exfoliation. And heavy exfoliators can be harmful to your skin.  Abrasive scrubs strip your skin, which leads to dryness and irritation.  And, it can worsen skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and acne. 

Instead, try natural cleansers and more gentle exfoliators to keep your pores clean, and your skin healthy.

Long-Wear Makeup

We know that maybe makeup isn’t technically skincare, but you still are applying it to your skin, right?  So, we figured, might as well arm you with the power of knowledge in this department as well.

 For starters, long-wear makeup products are able to cling to your skin for so long because their packed full of strong chemicals that your skin shouldn’t be exposed to on a daily basis (or, honestly ever).  And, that’s not the only problem. 

When wearing long-wear makeup, we tend to fall off of our typical skincare routine.  Think: not washing your face because it’s “concealer you can sleep in.”  It’s never good to have harsh chemicals on your skin, but especially overnight.

At the end of the day, slowly replacing any red-flag products with alternatives that are free of harsh chemicals and parabens is a great place to start.  Trust us, your skin will thank you.

Spring Clean Your Skincare Routine

While January might be the most popular month for detoxing, sometimes you’re not ready to kick your New Year’s resolution into action until well into the New Year.  That’s why Spring Cleaning exists though, right?  March is the perfect time to get a jumpstart on that summer glow by spring cleaning your skincare regimen.

After the holidays, you probably focused on what you were putting in your body and got reacquainted with salads and smoothies, but did you pay attention to what you were putting on your body, more specifically, the different toxins you may be applying to your skin?  Diet and exercise are both super important when it comes to detoxing, but by revamping your skincare routine as well, you can set yourself up to go into summer feeling your freshest.

Here’s a couple things you can do this spring to purge your skin of chemicals and toxins and spring clean your skincare routine.

1. Know what your products are made of

This probably seems like silly advice, but a lot of people actually aren’t aware of the different chemicals in their skincare products.  That’s because most moisturizers, deodorants, and body washes have chemicals in them that we aren’t necessarily familiar with, but that we just assume are necessary to “get the job done.” 

While the chemicals in these body washes and moisturizers may be effective in getting our skin clean and soft, they are also effective in altering our body’s natural bacteria, which isn’t what we want. 

exercise skincare

Most big brand body washes and lotions contain chemical and alcohol based ingredients, which can kill the natural bacteria our bodies produce.  Without these natural bacteria, our skin stops producing what’s necessary to clean and protect itself.

So, what do you do?  You want to detox your skin, but you also want to feel clean and moisturized.  Easy, just shop natural products.

2. Know what natural skincare products are out there

Only shopping natural products feels like incredibly general and incredibly obvious advice…and that’s because it is, but it is also very true.  There are enough options out there now that it is simple to only shop natural products.  You aren’t even stuck with “slim pickings.”  There are numerous natural skincare lines to choose from. 

While ditching your old skin care regimen and replacing it with an all-natural one may feel a little drastic, we want you to think about it this way: the number of different products you use on your skin can be as high as ten, and even if those products are from the same brand – one that you like and trust – that’s a lot of different chemicals you’re using on your skin. 

So, if you are someone who has an extensive skincare routine, you could actually be hurting your skin in the long run, rather than helping it, making it even more important to explore natural skincare options.  If you identify as the person packing more than five face lotions for a weekend, then it is also important to be aware of how much skincare is too much skincare.

3. Know how often to treat your skin

Something we’re sure you never thought you’d hear, but yes, there is a such thing as too much skincare.  Even if you are using all natural products, you can oversaturate your skin and actually reverse the good you’re trying to do.  There are certain things that you need to do every day, such as washing your face with an all-natural cleanser and even applying a daily moisturizer, but that’s about it. 

Skinecare Routine

Washing your face at the end of the day is necessary to cleanse your skin of all the toxins you encounter just out in the world every day, but washing your face more than once a day can dry out your skin. Same with applying a daily moisturizer; if you’re using it just once each day then it will help keep your skin feeling soft, but more than once a day can actually clog your pores. 

Other treatments you can consider for your skin more sparingly include all-natural face masks and detoxifying baths.  Both of these treatments should be done no more than three times a week, seeing as they can actually dry out your skin if performed every day.

So, while you have this relaxing little lull that is spring, do yourself a favour and don’t just detox from the inside, give your body some love on the outside too with a more natural skincare routine.

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How-To: Prepare Your Feet For Spring

We become a lot more aware of the overall look and feel of our feet as warmer months begin to approach.  It might not even be until we are busting out the sandals that we realize how dry and cracked our feet have really gotten.  When it comes to feet, we usually put them at the bottom of our list of priorities.  Probably because they are kind of “out of sight, out of mind” in a sense…but, our feet are actually the workhorses of our bodies.  They are literally holding us up every day, so they really deserve some love year-round.  

Keep Them Clean

This probably sounds obvious, but the cleanliness of our feet can often be overlooked.  It is important to not only cleanse our feet of dirt, but also of dead and dry skin.  Take some extra time in the shower to really scrub them.  The dead and dry skin can build up easily on your feet and become harder to tackle if you don’t tend to them regularly.  And plus, no one wants dirty feet. 

Moisturise with Foot Cream Regularly

During the winter, our skin tends to dry out even more because of the colder weather.  Yes, even though your feet are covered up, the weather does still affect them.  So just as you moisturize your face and body, moisturize your feet regularly as well. 

Our feet require a heavier moisturizer than our face and body, so finding a foot cream that works for you is important.  It also helps to pick a time that works best for you to apply your foot cream…maybe it’s right before bed or when you wake up in the morning before you put your socks on.  You don’t have to apply foot cream daily, but by doing so three-four times a week, you’ll instantly notice softer, healthier feet.    

Give Yourself a Mini Pedicure

Make the time to give yourself a mini pedicure once a month.  This doesn’t have to be some extravagant thing—however, if you want it to be, we are all for a little self-pampering, too—but you can keep it nice and simple by buying yourself a foot pumice and giving yourself a footbath.  The foot pumice will work harder on your feet to scrape away all that dead and dry skin that may have built up that you weren’t able to get off simply by scrubbing in the shower.  After your foot pumice leaves you with already noticeable softer skin, apply your foot cream as well, so the new skin on your feet is moisturized.  And, there, mini pedicure finished.

Choose Your Footwear Wisely

This part’s especially fun: New Shoes!  Just kidding, but having sturdy footwear is an important part to having healthy and happy feet.  Obviously, we’re not saying you need a new pair of boots every single winter, but it is important to be aware of when your shoes are just a little too broken in or have completely just run their course.  

It’s also important to make sure that both your shoes and socks are clean, dry, comfortable and fit right.  If your shoes and socks are constantly rubbing or squeezing your feet in an uncomfortable way all day, then, one, that’s honestly just unenjoyable for you, and two, it’s really not good for your skin. 

Lastly, Make it a Habit

If you do most of the things we’ve suggested, regularly, then they’ll become habit.  When it comes down to it, cleaning and moisturizing your feet really does not take long at all.  Not only will your soft and happy feet thank you, but they’ll look so good once that sun finally comes out.