Anyone else’s skin behaving HORRIFICALLY right now? The sudden change in season has the ability to play havoc with skin, so we asked skincare expert Rebecca Spencer, Biome Skin and Beauty founder & owner, for her expert tips to combat skin that just won’t cooperate!
Hi Rebecca! So WHY does our skin seem to turn on us at the change of season? What effects will we notice?
Our skin is a living organ, and as our environment changes our skin has to adapt, but things can get thrown off balance while our skin adjusts. In the warmer months the higher temperatures and humidity can lead to an increase in our skin’s oil production, making your skin feel greasier, especially towards the end of the day. As a result of the extra oil, we may experience more congestion and breakouts, because excess dead skin cells and debris easily adhere to the surface of the skin and can become clogged.
With more hours in the sun, many of us can also be prone to pigmentation (or dark spots) especially with NZ’s powerful rays! It isn’t all bad though, UV rays can actually have an anti-inflammatory effect too, and can be particularly helpful in improving conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
When the weather turns cooler this normally means a drop in humidity, which can deplete our skin’s moisture levels. We’re often in artificially heated environments during this time too which adds to the loss of hydration. This can cause dry, tight and even flakey skin. As our skin’s natural hydrating factors contribute to our protective barrier it can become less resilient which is why many people find their skin is more sensitive and reactive in the colder months.
How do we begin to combat that?
Here’s a few things that can help:
- – When it comes to seasonal changes and our skin, some small tweaks can make all the difference! In summer, try switching things up with lighter product formulations and if you’re experiencing an increase in congestion, exfoliate more, but be careful not to overdo it. If you’re prone to pigmentation, then factor in a serum with ingredients such as vitamin C which can help to block the formation of this pigment before it appears.
- – It goes without saying that SPF is a non-negotiable, not just to prevent pigmentation but to guard against premature ageing and skin cancer. Your makeup may need a bit of a change-up too. Summer calls for a ‘less-is-more’ approach with the increase in humidity, and some good options include a lightweight BB Cream or a mineral powder which I love as it contains a natural sunscreen and can easily be topped up during the day.
- – If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend seeing a trusted skin therapist for a seasonal check-in to make sure you’re on the right track with your homecare products, and for a customised skin treatment to target any specific concerns you might have.
- – When winter rolls around, you may want to switch to a richer, slightly heavier moisturiser with a higher oil content to deliver moisture and fortify your skin’s barrier. I love using an oil at night as a super nourishing dose of skin-love all year round, but especially in winter.
- – To maximise moisture, it’s a great idea to layer a hydrating serum underneath your moisturiser too. One that includes water-binding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid will really help to plump!
- – If you’ve been using a gel or foaming cleanser during the warmer seasons, now might be the time to use a cream or balm cleanser instead which will cleanse while keeping your skin’s moisture barrier intact.
- – I recommend to most of my clients to take a good quality essential fatty acid supplement all year round, but particularly during winter. When taken internally, these skin-loving oils work to lock moisture in, and boost both hydration and resilience.
What, in your opinion, are the three most essential skincare products you can have?
- CLEANSER: A good quality cleanser which suits your skin type should be an integral part of your regime. Skin that’s properly cleansed can function in a much healthier way. Your skincare absorbs much easier and can work its magic when it’s not fighting its way through a layer of debris. Cleansing away the day helps to prevent congestion, breakouts and helps to slow the ageing process by removing toxins.
- MOISTERISER: A great moisturiser provides valuable hydration and protection. Someone with oily skin may be tempted to forgo a moisturiser, but a lightweight oil-free formulation can actually really help to create balance by signalling the skin to stop over-producing oil. Many moisturisers offer more than just hydration too, and include sophisticated ingredients such as antioxidants to protect against environmental damage, peptides for firming and an in-built SPF.
- SPF: Unprotected sun exposure can accelerate premature aging, and melanoma is a very real and scary reality in our country. The key when choosing an SPF is to find one you actually like using. I know of many people who don’t often use their SPF because they don’t like the texture or how it looks on their skin, but there are some amazing formulations now that address those concerns. Like most skincare, I’d also recommend getting advice from an expert on which is the best to use.
Cost of living is so high right now – what is your advice for a minimal skincare regime?
Apart from what we’ve been led to believe through social media and marketing, you really don’t need a complicated skincare regime to have great skin. To keep your skincare budget in check, concentrate on your core essentials, and look for multitasking products and ingredients.
A great example of this is a moisturiser with an SPF or a nourishing face oil. Seeing the need for a simplified skincare routine, I developed Biome Perfecting Oil. It’s a blend of organic plant oils to hydrate and repair the skin and active Granactive Retinoid which helps to improve skin cell turnover while you sleep.It’s a treatment serum and moisturiser in one.
Retinoids themselves are the perfect example of a multitasking skincare ingredient. The powerhouse active boosts collagen production, helps to smooth skin texture by increasing cell turnover, refines pores, brightens and works to reduce congestion and breakouts.
What do you think the most overhyped skincare product/treatment is?
Moisturiser is definitely one of the essentials, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on one, and I’m yet to see evidence that a moisturiser at this price point is worth the investment. There are some fantastic budget-friendly options that will more than likely give you the same result if not better than the expensive stuff!
Rebecca Spencer has been working in the skincare industry for the past 20 years, and owns/runs her own West Auckland-based clinic, Biome Skin and Beauty, in Titirangi.