Do you have a niggling bugbear that torments you every time you look in the mirror? We hear you. And as much as we love to advocate being comfortable in your own, fabulous skin, a few simple tricks are all it takes to make it even more fabulous.
So, if dark spots are doing your head in, or if puffy, morning eyes are driving you crazy, read on for our favourite tried and trusted tricks for tackling the most common beauty banes in a jiffy…
1. Dark Spots
Dark spots, officially known as hyperpigmentation, occur when your melanin goes awry thanks to hormones, skin trauma or too much sun. In fact, the sun is the biggest cause of dark spots. Harmful UV radiation sends your melanin-producing cells crazy, causing uneven pigmentation that can ruin your complexion’s mojo.
But, the solution is simple – protect, protect, protect. And not just in the summer: you need to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen like Organic Tinted Moisturiser SPF 25 every day of the year. No arguments. This will not only stop dark spots from getting worse but will also prevent new ones from forming.
Also consider Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil. It’s packed with more than twenty botanical oils to help ease pigmentation and protect against further damage.
2. Facial Redness
Mild redness is totally normal in small doses, but persistent redness can get very irritating. It comes in many guises and is often due to things like eczema, acne, rosacea or psoriasis which can cause your blood vessels to dilate and blood to rush to the surface of your skin.
If you’ve had your skin checked out, however, and you don’t have any underlying conditions, chances are your skincare routine is to blame. Exfoliating too vigorously, for example, can break down your skin’s protective layer, causing irritation and redness, so go gently when you exfoliate.
Overloading your skin with too many active ingredients like retinol, glycolic and vitamin C can also cause flare-ups, so pare down your routine to the true basics (cleanser, moisturiser and sun protection) and look out for calming ingredients like aloe and chamomile.
We recommend our Organic Hydration Gel for soothing the skin and reducing inflammation. It’s honestly so good! And for a quick fix to cover up redness while nourishing your skin, it has to be our Organic Tinted Moisturiser SPF 25.
3. Puffy Eyes
How annoying are bags under your eyes that are – to you, at least – the size of a small country? Puffy eyes are often genetic (sorry about that), but they get worse as you get older because less collagen makes your skin become looser, while weaker muscles allow fat and excess fluid to pool in that area. Joy.
Of course, a lack of sleep will make matters worse, so our first piece of advice is to get as many valuable zzzs as possible and sleep with your head slightly raised to reduce pooling under your eyes.
Imperial Eye Gel twice a day is also a must here. Keep it in the fridge for an extra kick to those bags! Still a little puffy in the morning? Then place a couple of cold teabags or slices of cucumber over your eyes for five minutes to help reduce swelling.
4. Dark Undereye Circles
While we’re on the subject of eye bugbears, dark bags can also get lost. Another one you can blame your parents for, dark undereye circles are genetic and caused by prominent blood vessels under your eyes.
Again, ageing thins your skin which makes them even darker – and sun damage can increase melanin under your eyes which won’t help a jot. The good news is, our Imperial Eye Gel targets dark circles (and puffiness – win, win!) by stimulating collagen synthesis and strengthening the delicate skin under your eyes.
Apply just a small amount twice daily for the best results. Oh, and wear sunglasses whenever you leave the house. More than just a fashion statement, a great pair of UV protective shades can work wonders for reducing pigmentation around your eyes. Who knew?
5. Fine Lines
To be honest, we believe expression lines around the mouth and eyes show you’ve lived a good life, so be proud of them. But, if you want to make them less pronounced, here are three things you must do:
1. Wear sun protection every day. We repeat, every day, rain or shine.
2. Apply topical antioxidants to nix free radicals and reduce the damage they cause to your valuable collagen.
3. Embrace retinol in your skincare routine by applying Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum twice daily to clean, moisturised skin. Retinol is the bee’s knees at reducing the visible signs of ageing. And that’s not just our opinion, btw, but one of the few facts most skin experts agree on.
Thousands of women also swear by our Night Elixir and Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil for helping to soften and smooth fine lines. Don’t just take our word for it, go check out the reviews in our shop!
The fact is, just a few simple tweaks or additions to your skincare routine can really help your skin be the best it possibly can. Now, can we have a hurrah for that?