How to build healthy skincare habits

There’s no such thing as a ‘quick fix’ for skin - but establishing a sensible routine will lead to great results before you know it! 

There is no such thing as an instant fix when it comes to skincare, so when you establish a new skincare regime, keep in mind that your skin will need time to adjust and rebalance before you see great results.

It is important to try and use formulations from the one source, as this helps to establish what works for your skin as well as minimizing the risk of introducing ‘rogue’ products which trigger skin irritation. 

Before starting, it is a must to review your skincare shelf and get rid of expired products, since these lose their efficacy over time and can even go ‘off’ and cause reactions like spots and rashes.

Elave Skincare is made with gentle, naturally-sourced ingredients and omits the sulfates, SLS, MI, alcohol, dyes and sulfates that can cause irritation in dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The products are made wholly in Ireland and are gluten and cruelty-free. All formulations are vegan, except those containing honey and beeswax.

Flare-ups of redness, spots and rashes can really knock confidence

Research by  ELAVE Happy. Skin. confirms that flare-ups of redness, spots and rashes can really knock people’s confidence, even though the irritation may not be as obvious to others. The good news is there is a lot you can do to improve the tone, texture and appearance of your skin by following a daily skincare regime. 

The easiest way to establish a routine is to build on whatever you are already doing. So, when you step into the shower, cleanse your face as well as the rest of your body. While your skin is still damp, apply body and facial moisturiser. After cleaning your teeth, put on sunscreen. And throughout the day, whenever you break for a cup of coffee or a loo visit, reapply body and hand cream.  

Step 1: Cleanse

Wash your face twice a day, morning and evening, in lukewarm water using a gentle, non-soap cleanser to remove dirt and pollutants.  Elave Facial Cleanser is a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser with antioxidant vitamin E to protect against cellular damage and repair dry, sensitive skin. It is particularly suitable for eczema-prone skin.

Another option is  Elave Hydrating Cream Cleanser, a vitamin and aloe vera-enriched formula which cleans and soothes the skin while preventing moisture loss and irritation.  Elave Skin Balancing Cleansing Gelworks well for acne-prone skin. This multi-action formula with natural amino acids and humectants refreshes, hydrates and softens skin, while vitamin E and camomile extract calm and protect from environmental damage.

Harsh environments and daily activities strip oils from the skin

Step 2: Moisturise

Harsh environments and daily activities strip the skin of its natural oils. As we age, skin also naturally loses its ability to retain moisture, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles. A good moisturiser will surge hydration back into the dermis, support its natural oils, and act as a barrier against further dehydration.

Moisturise your face morning and evening, and your body and hands throughout the day as required.  If you have particularly dry skin, or suffer from eczema or dermatitis, you may need to moisturise every couple of hours to ensure your skin remains supple, hydrated and itch-free.  

Lotions and creams work best for people with combination, dry and inflamed skin. ‘Day’ moisturisers contain ingredients to protect your skin against free radicals and ultraviolet light. ‘Night’ creams concentrate on repairing any damage done during the day by speeding up cellular turnover and replenishing moisture.

Elave Skin Balancing Moisturisercontains probiotics, Manuka Honey, vitamins B5 & E, and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration levels, smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and restoring a healthy, balanced skin barrier. Elave Intense Moisture Surgeis a powerful combination of coconut oil, shea butter, vitamins and glycerin that repairs and surges moisture back into facial skin, leaving it feeling soft and rejuvenated. 

Elave Body Lotionwith aloe vera, glycerin and organic camomile is clinically proven to soothe, soften and hydrate dry skin.Elave Intensive Creamwith white soft paraffin and fractionated coconut oil works best for very dry and eczema-prone skin.Elave Hand Treatment Balmwith shea butter and coconut oil comes to the rescue of dry, chapped hands. 

UV rays from the sun are the primary cause of premature skin aging

Step 3) Protect & Maintain

Ultraviolet rays cause 90% of premature skin aging – fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots.Elave Sun hypoallergenic UVA & UVB, broad spectrum sunscreens are approved by dermatologists and pediatricians for use on delicate, eczema and dermatitis-prone skins, and protect against up to 98% of harmful UV rays.

Elave Sun SPF30 and SPF 50+are infused with 12 antioxidants and 9 botanicals to guarantee no itching, prickling or rashes. Use all year-round, but particularly between the months of March and September in Ireland, or when taking a sunshine break.

Elave Daily Skin Defence SPF45is a multi award-winning formulation which does double duty as a moisturiser and sunscreen. This vitamin E-infused, invisible zinc formulation is absorbed quickly into the skin, leaving no ‘ghosting’, and can be used either without or under makeup.

Protect eyes and lips with Elave Eye Rescue Serum, a rich combination of vitamins, natural humectants and bio extracts for great circulation and new cell growth, andElave Daily Lip Defence SPF20,an ultra-hydrating lip balm containing coconut oil and shea butter with UVA/UVB protection.

Elave Skincare formulations, which also come in some handy, great value essentials kits, are available to purchase on this website or at Tesco, Dunnes Beauty, Boots, Chemist Warehouse, and select independent community pharmacies.