Where There’s Smoke Part 2

With hot summer days and nights right around the corner we caught up with jane iredale expert Martina Williams to discuss some of the main things to consider when enjoying the summer sun.

There is no question that summer ignites feelings of excitement with beachside holidays, lavish vacations and a golden glow we have been longing for all winter. We just need to remember that whilst it’s great to enjoy the glorious sunshine it’s also important to factor in the vulnerability of our skin.

Increased sun exposure can cause fair-skinned faces to freckle and leave darker complexions open to permanent skin cell damage. Here we share Martina’s top tips to help protect your natural glowing skin this summer.

HYDRATION

During summer our bodies lose more moisture than usual through increased heat, causing dry and dehydrated skin. To help replenish your skin to its optimal soft and hydrated state you must increase the amount of water you drink. Water is a direct source of hydration and be sure to pay special attention to the products you choose to use.

Invest in a good moisturiser, your skin will love you for it. The key is to look for a mosituriser with active ingredients and vitamins that will improve your skin’s moisture, appearance and health. For your face, try one of jane iredale’s three hydration sprays, each is rich in antioxidants to help protect skin from the environment’s harsh elements, as well as hydrating and plumping skin cells. The POMMISST Hydration Spray with the added benefit of pomegranate extract is a powerful antioxidant and UV protector, which helps to condition, hydrate and protect the skin. D2O Hydration Spray based on ylang ylang; helps to calm and protect while boosting the skins hydration. Balance Hydration Spray has been formulated to help balance the pH of oily skin with the added benefit of algae extract; orange essential oil and grapefruit peel extract. The added bonus is green tea extract, which is highly recommended for acne-prone skin types.  All of the jane iredale Hydration sprays are certified by Ecocert Greenlife, because we are committed to making products that are clean, natural and environmentally friendly.

One other jane iredale hero product that needs to be mentioned is Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener, a skin quenching primer that prepares the skin so makeup goes on effortlessly and lasts longer. This product helps to prevent moisture loss while it nourishes the surface of the skin. If dry, dehydrated skin is your concern, Smooth Affair can make such a huge difference to the final look of your foundation. If you haven’t tried it, treat yourself. Oh and did we mention, Jane often uses it as her moisturiser, it’s that delicious. It’s also won the Allure (USA) Magazine ‘Best Natural Wonder’ Award for 2014, the Academy Awards of the makeup world. We don’t think you’ll use another primer after you use this product. It’s that good!

EXFOLIATE

Supple, smooth and radiant skin starts with thorough cleansing and exfoliation. The exfoliation process refines the skin surface by removing dead skin cells, resulting in a smooth more polished looking skin. Exfoliating will improve hydration levels by allowing your moisturisers to penetrate the skin more effectively; makeup will glide on easily, look even and last longer. Try jane iredale’s Magic Mitt, a knitted micro-fiber cleansing cloth that gently exfoliates the surface of the skin, buffing away any dry, flaky skin cells while quickly and completely removing makeup using only water. Pack a mitt when you travel to save space and cleansing time.

PROTECT FROM SUN EXPOSURE

We’ve all heard it a million times, but never the less, it needs to be said, avoid sun exposure between the hours of 11am to 3pm when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest and most damaging. Applying sunscreen before exposing your face and body to the sun is a crucial step in preventative skin care. It is important to note that most chemical sunscreens take around 30 minutes to activate, however it only takes a few minutes for your skin to burn. Gardening, swimming and outdoor activities should be avoided during these hours or at the very least, stay in the shade as much as possible, wear a hat, re-apply your sunscreen and wear light-weight cotton clothing to keep cool while protecting your skin. Too much sun exposure puts you at risk of premature aging, sun-spots, dry skin and nasty skin cancers.

To ensure you are leaving the house protected and for automatic sun protection we recommend the jane iredale Purepressed Base Mineral Foundation which gives instant chemical free broad spectrum sun protection and has a high water resistant rating. Because the powders are the top layer, their protection can be reapplied at the flick of a brush. If you prefer a liquid base, try Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream a creamy formula that helps to nourish and protect your skin from UV and free radical damage with a broad spectrum sunscreen – SPF 25. If you are after a sheer coverage mineral foundation, Dream Tint Tinted Moisturiser is the perfect option with a broad spectrum SFP 15.

GET A HEALTHY TAN

Always been a sun worshipper? Think again! There is nothing healthy about a real suntan. Enjoy being a glowing goddess safely with Tantasia Self Tanner and Bronzer; a light, streak-free formula that works instantly as a bronzer and develops as a gradual tan. Get a natural looking tanned complexion without the harsh UV and burnt damaged skin. No nasty chemicals or after smell. Use it on the face or body, suitable for even the most sensitive of skins.

If you are going to bronze up your body, whether it’s a spray tan, suntan or fake tan, remember to add some extra warmth to your face. Try jane iredale So-Bronzer’s in 3 beautiful shades – So-Bronze 1 suits light to medium complexions; So-Bronze 2 is slightly darker with the addition of a quarter moon of pressed gold powder (use it as an eye shadow – divine!) and So-Bronze 3 for the sun goddesses out there, think olive/dark tanned skin tones. Best of all, these bronzers can be used all year round, in summer to add a natural sun-kissed glow over your foundation and during the cooler months, to add definition to the face – AKA Contouring. We all need an oh-so gorgeous bronzer in our makeup kit.

THE FACTS

Why you need to become a sunscreen fanatic… this information usually surprises people. SPF ratings are complicated to understand but here is a quick insight into better understanding what factor is a better choice. There isn’t a great deal of extra protection between an SFP 15 and an SPF 50. For example, SPF 20 only gives 2.5% more protection than an SFP 15. SPF 30 only gives 1.5% more than an SPF 20.  There’s an extra 7% protection from a SPF 15 to an SPF 50.  Now it’s your choice whether you want those high SPFs with the increase in active chemicals or whether you’ll settle for a lower dose with fewer chemicals. We include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as our active ingredients. They are classified as ‘physical’ actives and rest on top of the skin (We don’t use nano which can penetrate).  ‘Chemical’ actives are absorbed into the skin before they become an effective sunscreen, but once they have absorbed their dose of UV radiation, these formulas turn into free radicals and become ineffective, hence why you need to reapply ‘chemical’ sunscreen every two hours.

We don’t want to spoil your summer fun, but now you know that there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the sunshine safely. Don’t be tempted to lie in the sun! Keep yourself protected from harmful UV-rays, stay hydrated and invest in good quality, healthy skin care and makeup that nurtures your skin! There’s no excuse this year for keeping the sun off your skin. Use protection, everyday, without fail, jane iredale beauties and have a happy summer!