Spring’s the time to revamp your routine, swap the heavy-duty products to something light and fresh and add in some extra TLC rituals. I often tell customers to take their time when applying our Serums. Once you’ve added a few drops onto your cleansed face and neck, pause for a moment, cup your hands around your nose and mouth, take a deep breath and let the exotic scent relax you before gently massaging the serum into your skin.
BETTER FOR YOU. AND THE PLANET.
Spring clean your beauty shelf. What products do you currently use that you can swap with a natural, cruelty-free and vegan alternative? Use up what you have left and go on the hunt for some nice natural, cruelty-free and vegan products.
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Labelling products as natural isn’t enough these days. We need to make conscious choices when buying products that go directly on our skin and hair so ask yourself what’s important to you. Does a brand test on animals? Are the ingredients vegan? How are the products packaged? Are preservatives used or artificial fragrances? Does the brand give back?
DITCH THE PLASTIC.
By now most of us are aware of the impact single use plastics have on our planet so it’s best to look for cosmetics packaged in reusable (and prettier) glass bottles and jars where possible. Certain types of plastic can leach into products, and some plastics can even be broken down over time by essential oils (this is why perfume is always housed in glass). Dark or non-toxic coated glass is also a perfect barrier against oxygen and light and ingredients such as antioxidants are very sensitive to both, meaning they can lose their skin-boosting benefits when exposed to either. Natural oils can also very easily degrade and oxidise when exposed to heat or light, so always consider what your products come in (some plastics are so thin that they’ll let light through).
MIX IT UP AND MULTI-TASK.
If you love using oils but fear the heaviness when the weather warms up, mix a drop of your facial oil in with your serum. As a rule though, oil helps to balance the skin’s own oil – so oily skins really benefit from treating their skin with oil. The natural oil that is most similar to skin’s own natural sebum is jojoba – a main ingredient in our award-winning Lani Tropical Super Serum, £19.99. Or why not use a layer of oil to protect skin from dehydration after cleansing, while you bathe or shower? Many Lani customers love adding some of the Coconut Polish to their cleanser to add just a little more cleansing power. Our Hair Treatment is a multi-tasking hero too. Use it as a pre-shampoo mask, an overnight mask, as a serum or even add some to rough elbows, knees or cuticles.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN.
Whilst you really should wear natural mineral SPF daily to protect your skin from damaging rays now’s the time to add a SPF to your daily routine if you aren’t already using one. Sun exposure is responsible for most of the visible aging of your skin—far more than all other factors combined.
LET YOUR SKIN LIGHTEN ITS LOAD.
Spring is about shedding layers so now’s a good idea to give your face a break from lots of products & heavier make-up. Commercial makeup contains chemicals, preservatives and fillers, all of which can lead to clogged pores. Natural mineral make-up that is also bismuth & talc-free is a good choice if you’re switching from a synthetic foundation – I like Nude by Nature, Kjaer Weis & Ere Pérez. It’s also a good time to focus on lighter weight but more deeply hydrating skincare. When skin is dry we tend to layer on thick creams, but the smaller molecules in serums penetrate deeper, and oil-based moisturising serums also have great skin affinity, so are recognised by our skin & help to regulate our moisture levels & reduce TEWL (trans epidermal water loss) too.
