Hey everyone and happy May! 🤲💫

This months blog post is all about skin positivity and I will also be sharing my favourite skincare tips with you. I am no expert but I will be sharing from experience and letting you have an insight into my skincare regime and what I like to do daily to help with the health of my skin.

Glowing, healthy skin hasn’t always been something I have had. Throughout my teens, I struggled with acne and many skin rashes. This was a combination of things; stress, diet, hormones, lack of skincare knowledge and so much more. I don’t have acne now and I rarely get spots but my skincare regime has definitely stepped UPPP a level since my teens.

Until about a year ago, I didn’t have much of a skincare regime (oops!). I would cleanse and remove my make-up using E45 and then that would be all I would do. On a day-to-day basis, I wear limited make-up because I hate the feeling of my skin being suffocated by products. On the odd occasion, I will wear a day cream, a touch of bronzer for sheer glow and some mascara – aka, I like to keep it simple & quick! ⤵️

As soon as I turned 22, I wanted to take care of my skin and nurture my largest organ with loving, mindful care. I now know that the products I am using are soothing, protecting and are rejuvenating my skin on a daily basis. I am still learning every day, but here are some things I have learnt along the way so far…

We all have good skin days and bad skin days. We all go through periods of time where our skin is dry, oily, breaking out, or generally feeling dull.

Just like bad hair days, skin ups and downs are part of being human. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. What I must remind you though… Regardless of your skin health, you’re beautiful, you’re worthy and your skin does not define your worth.

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Mental Health & skincare

Looking after my skin is essential for helping with my self-confidence. Doing a morning and evening skincare routine is essential for helping me feel calm. Going through my ritual is an uplifting meditation that gives me a feeling of purpose, satisfaction, and optimism. I am completely mindful during my skincare regime and I give my skin the love it needs and deserves every day. Even when I don’t feel great, doing my skincare adds structure and meaning to my day. It’s my ‘me’ time and I won’t ever let it slide.

Stress 

Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. It can also make it harder for skin problems to heal. Our skin knows when things aren’t ok and will protect and react.

Have you ever noticed that you break out more when you’re stressed? This is because stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil. It’s important you learn ways of how to de-stress and unwind. Skincare products and expensive lotions and potions won’t work if you don’t feed the root problem. Sleep, learn to switch off, move your body. We can’t always avoid stress BUT we can manage it with tricks and tips that work for us.

Diet

I eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, sources of protein and healthy carbohydrates. I limit my alcohol intake and I also limit the foods that contain processed ingredients. I find that if I eat a lot of refined sugar, my skin flares and the same goes for takeaway meals that aren’t packed with healthy nutrients. This doesn’t mean I take them out of my diet, it just means I limit them and have them in small doses.

Once you make changes to your diet, don’t expect an overnight miracle. It’s a gradual process but making small changes to your diet will definitely help. This is when I saw the most difference. Incorporating more vegetables and colourful foods, no restriction or crash dieting, getting enough vitamins and minerals (seek the advice of a health professional) and eating healthy sources of fat (avocados, oily fish). You can read more about the essential vitamins you need for good skin health HERE.

Fresh air

Studies have linked pollution to decreased skin health. And did you know that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air? It’s true! Taking a walk outside will get you into nature, away from the mirror, and breathing fresh air, which might very well benefit your skin health. I know that living beside the sea has massively helped the health of my skin compared to city life. Get wrapped up, get out in the fresh air and allow the elements to embrace your skin. Fresh, energising and flush your cheeks.

Skin-soothing products

With the skin being our largest organ it’s important that the products we put on our skin are good for us and good for our skin health. All of my skincare products are from Urban Veda. Their products are free from Genetically Modified ingredients, their products also have NO parabens, NO artificial colours AND NO Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). You will be pleased to know that the Urban Veda range is also certified as ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’ by the Vegetarian Society. As a holistic brand, they will never test on animals.

Basically, my skincare regime is soothing, healing and heartwarming. I use skincare that not only looks after my skin, but it’s also incredibly healing for my mind too – with healing essential oils and scents that instantly allow me to feel relaxed and ready to take on the world.

I would highly recommend that you check out the Urban Veda products. I have gone from being scared of trying skincare… To now have a routine that is manageable, soothing and something I couldn’t live without.

Take their skin test online to see which products you need for optimum skin health… Skin Test & more information about Urban Veda HERE. 

See below my favourite products from their skincare range (just a few! I love them all & I am a very proud brand ambassador)…

Keep it simple

In the past, I have experimented with all sorts of products… A routine that sometimes consisted of 10+ products. This is unrealistic and so hard to maintain! Not only is this a long process, and not the easiest way to maintain skin health, but it isn’t always great layering chemicals on your skin in the hope it will strip blemishes and leave you glowing. My skincare regime NOW consists of 3-4 products. Products that are natural, agree with my skin (trial and error) and contain no harmful ingredients.

Wash your pillowcases!

Dirt, bacteria, and often makeup collect on a pillowcase. Even if you cleanse before bed the natural oils on your skin still remain and can collect over a period of time. Be on top of your bed linen and wash them regularly to avoid unwanted bacteria. It’s a simple and easy tip but it’s so important.

Hydrate 

Your skin is the largest organ, and that means it needs hydration just as much as the rest of your body. Drinking an adequate amount of water daily is important for overall good health. Water aids in digestion, circulation, absorption and even rids the body and skin of toxins. I see a huge difference in my skin when I make the effort to hydrate throughout the day. Especially if you work out a lot or live in a hot, humid and dry climate… It’s essential!

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These are my skin tips and they definitely alter depending on the season and the location I am in. However, looking after myself is an essential self-care step and is prioritised in my tasks of things to do. Having some time to pamper each day can be a great way of boosting your confidence, switching off from the outside world and gaining your wonderful power back that you deserve 💓

So tell me…

What skincare tips can you share? ⤵️

Do you have any questions for me? Let me know beauties ⤵️

I have a few more tips I could share, I will share them soon!

Lots of love always, Jessica x