Skincare Back To Basics

January is the time when we look to the year ahead, thinking of ways to improve our routines after a busy season and try to take action that will yield positive results. At Millies, we love to look at our skincare routines and make sure we are using all the right products for our concerns.

Lets strip it all back and get back to basics. Our skin experts will breakdown a minimalist skincare routine for you. We will focus on realistic, simple and essential steps to promote healthy skin. With this capsule collection of skincare products, it will be easier to maintain consistency and minimise costs by choosing top-quality products that address specific concerns.

Dry Skin - Dry skin is a skin type. It typically produces less sebum and has much less lipids. The absence of lipids in the skin results in the inability to retain moisture and protect the skin from external factors which means that a dry skin type can usually experience sensitivity too. Symptoms of dry skin include dull appearance, rough and flaky texture as well as loss of elasticity.

Acne/Congested Skin - This skin concern is described as any skin that experiences bumpy, inflamed, irritated or even infected skin. Acne occurs when hair follicles become blocked/clogged. Acne and congestion have so many varying types and severities so it is important to get advice from your skin therapist as the best treatment for the congestion you are dealing with.

Ageing Skin - As our skin ages the outer most layer of the epidermis becomes thinner; collagen depletes, we lose elasticity and over exposure to external and internal stressors can result in uneven tone, texture and/or pigmentation.

Sensitive Skin - Sensitive skin is a skin type, however sensitivity can be experienced alongside other skin concerns such as acne, oily and dry. When the skins' barrier is impaired, inflamed, hot, itchy and/or all of the above, products specifically for sensitivity should be used.

Teenage Skin - With Teenagers and Pre-teens being bombarded with misleading information and being heavily influenced by Tik-Tok skin videos, it is really important to get the correct information and advice.

Pre-teen skin: Unless it is having an active concern that needs specific ingredients should be kept simple; A cleanser and SPF for the morning. Cleanse before bed followed by a basic moisturiser. At this stage Pre-Teen skin may only be starting to change, get the odd breakout, become a little oily or notice pores becoming more visible. Consistency is key, cleansing is arguably the most important step at this stage as it will help remove excess sebum, make-up and is a great habit as it is the foundation of a good skincare routine going forward.

Teenage Skin: This time in our lives can see all sorts of skin concerns and issues as there is surge in hormones that greatly differ between the sexes too! Although some teenagers escaped unscathed or unbothered by these changes, for others it can be debilitating to the point of not wanting to go to school or out with friends. We should treat teenage problem skin with care and sensitivity as it normally goes hand in hand with emotional well-being. If your teenager or you as a teenager have no active concerns with the skin, the same routine as discussed for Pre-Teen can be followed, so Cleansing AM & PM, an additional serum can be used here after cleansing in the AM. It can be vitamin C based or if oily or prone to a breakout the serum should contain niacinamide and/or hyaluronic acid. SPF is an absolute non negotiable and should be used every day, rain, hail or snow. After Cleansing at night (if wearing make-up try to double cleanse, remove make-up with an oil-based cleanser then cleanse with your regular cleanser for a thorough clean) finish your night routine with your serum and/or moisturiser, light emulsion for oily skin or a richer consistency for a drier skin. Now, problematic skin in teenagers can need a little more attention, ingredients like salicylic acid (absorbs oil, cleans out the pore, dissolves blackheads) are normally found in treatment cleansers and should be used 3 times per week. Vitamin A is an important ingredient to integrate here as most acne and congestion can be a deficiency in vitamin A. Niacinamide Is also a fantastic ingredient to have in this skincare routine as it calms inflammation and strengthens the pore walls. SPF of course everyday. The PM routine for this skin concern is the same as the AM but replace your SPF with ideally an oil free or mattifying moisturiser. These skin concerns can range in scales and severities and my recommendation is always to get the advice of your skin trained therapist.