Exercise is wonderful for so many reasons, among which is the release of pent-up tension or stress that is stored in the body. As well as increasing blood flow and delivering oxygen to every cell in our body, daily exercise boosts the release of endorphins in our brain. These are the “feel-good” neurotransmitters that improve our sense of well-being and make us feel happy. To make it a consistent habit, we recommend choosing a form of movement that feels fun and joyful, rather than worrying about the latest fitness trend or whether or not you’re burning enough calories. The point is to worry less, not more, so consider this permission to skip those marathon runs (unless of course you enjoy them).

In the first place, many people don’t realise that fragrance – particularly as it appears on many ingredient labels – can refer to a wide range of additives in a product that gives it its scent. Naturally scented products will use raw materials and ingredients of natural origin – such as essential oils and botanical extracts – whereas synthetically scented products may be using any one of thousands of lab-created chemicals.

Natural Fragrance

Natural fragrance refers to essential oils and plant extracts that are naturally occurring substances found in different parts of plants – the flower, fruit, leaf, stem, bark, wood or resin. Essential oils are derived from a single natural source and generally they are harvested sustainably.  While the scent profile of essential oils can be replicated, the range of physical and mental health benefits cannot. These oils, rich in all sorts of nutrients, can provide medicinal, moisturizing, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties, and can be used in aromatherapy. Natural fragrance is difficult to reproduce synthetically, so that’s where synthetic fragrance oils come in. 

Perhaps the most important thing to realise about dry sensitive skin is that it is a skin type that some people are born with, characterised by a complexion that produces very little in the way of oil or natural moisture and is susceptible to irritation. It is important to note that dry skin is different from dehydrated skin, which is a condition in which the skin lacks water.

Some symptoms of a dry sensitive skin type include feelings of tightness, rough texture, flakiness, itchiness, and redness. It can also appear dull and show more signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles. For this reason, proper care is essential to keep your skin healthy and prevent damage caused by excess dryness.

Beyond the basic genetic components of your skin type that cannot be controlled, there are a few things to be aware of that can be addressed or mitigated. Here’s what you need to know:

What makes men’s skin unique and why does it require a slightly different approach in terms of daily care? The answer to this is that while men and women share many of the same concerns – including wanting to prevent ageing, protect their skin against external stressors, and enjoy an overall healthy looking complexion – men’s skin differs just slightly in terms of composition and condition.

For example, male skin tends to be more resilient, due to the fact that the epidermis is about 25% thicker. It also tends to have more collagen and elastin and to produce more oil overall.

This is all good news in terms of staving off the ageing process, however with these advantages come a few disadvantages, including more likelihood of experiencing rough texture, a more oily appearance, and more frequent acne breakouts. Additionally, taking into account other grooming practices like shaving, it’s also worth noting that men’s skin can be more vulnerable to concerns like irritation, minor abrasions, and ingrown facial hairs.

With this in mind, you can probably see why just a bit of soap and water isn’t going to be enough to address so many unique concerns. While men’s skincare needn’t be complicated, investing in a few good products and targeted formulas that specifically take into account these factors is the most effective way to care for men’s skin, prevent premature ageing, and keep it performing optimally.

So what do you need exactly, to build your perfect routine? Let’s talk specifics:

Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when pores become blocked with sebum, skin cells, and bacteria. It occurs mainly on the face, chest, upper back, and shoulders – the areas of skin with the most oil (sebaceous) glands. The oil glands (which are connected to hair follicles) release oil that travels up the hair shaft to clean and clear away dead skin cells from the pores, keeping skin clear. However, when the skin’s pores become clogged the excess oil, dead skin cells, and other debris become trapped and build up inside the pores causing whiteheads and blackheads to appear. Acne-causing bacteria feed on the oil and dead skin cells within the pores and as they grow this contributes further to the increased pressure within the pore.

The build-up of pressure within the hair follicle eventually causes it to rupture leaking bacteria, oil, debris under the skin surface and creating an inflammatory response or breakout.

DON’T SQUEEZE!

If you attempt to squeeze a papule or cyst you risk spreading the pus further under the surface of the skin often resulting in more breakouts or infection.

First things first, for a beauty product to be considered fully vegan, the formula must contain no animal byproducts or ingredients derived from animals, and must also be free of any farming pesticides that could be harmful to animals. It’s additionally important to note here that products labeled with other marketing buzzwords–such as clean, sustainable, organic, natural, eco-friendly or even cruelty-free–can still feature these types of ingredients and may not in fact be 100% vegan.

So why is this so important? Read on for some of the big benefits of vegan skincare.