With the weather changing and the days getting cooler and drier, our skincare should change too. To find out the latest tips on skincare, I spoke with Elizabeth Lamont, Vice President of Marketing, La Prairie. Elizabeth shared her top tips on how you can have gorgeous skin this fall.
Why is it important to care for skin? (rather than just soap and water)
It's important to care for the skin as it's the largest organ in the body and is responsible for a very complex array of functions. You need to treat it with all the diligence you can to set it up for success in completing those functions. On a basic level it's important to start with a good thorough cleansing, followed by a serum to take care of the deeper levels of the skin.
Naturally, this is followed by a moisturizer to take care of the upper layers of the skin, and specially formulated products for the eye area where the skin is thinner and has less ability to protect itself; there are finer texture products designed for that part of the face. In a nutshell, multiple products take care of skin which is executing multiple actions.
What are the steps to care for skin?
There can be multiple steps or there can be few steps in someone's skincare ritual: every person finds what works best for them. I'm personally a proponent of a layered skincare approach, cleansing being absolutely key and even in some cases I perform a double-cleansing ritual.
Removing makeup isn't cleaning the skin, that's simply removing makeup, so really starting with a double-cleanse
Step 1. To remove makeup
Step 2. Once that makeup is gone, to give the skin a very deep cleanse is the best way to start the skincare ritual, followed by a toner to remove any remnant impurities.
As the seasons are changing, what should you do to care for your skin in the fall?
One of the things that happens with the season change whether from summer to fall or fall to winter is conditions become drier, both outside of buildings and indoors, because of forced air and heating systems, and so you might need that extra 'oomph' of hydration.
What are the most common mistakes people make with skincare?
Remarkably one of the things I hear more than anything else is 'sometimes I go to bed without washing my face.' It's horrifying to me to think that. You have to (2x a day) give your skin a good thorough cleanse.
Particularly at the end of the day when you've been in an urban environment that is filled with pollution, micro-particles in the air, you really want to clean that away. Also you'll want to use products that are specifically designed for nighttime use.
Here are a few of my favourite tips for mature skin and the changing seasons:
Top five tips to keep your mature skin looking gorgeous this fall:
Less is more. Focus on all things hydrating. Foundations that will deliver moisture and radiance will soften the signs of aging.
Introduce a primer to your routine. Primers ensure a flawless application of your foundation and allow you to look as natural as possible.
Bronzers uplift the skin tone and assist in downplaying and blending out areas of concern such as redness and hyper-pigmentation. Bronzers can allow you to sculpt the facial contour creating the illusion of a lift.
Celebrate your beauty with peachy sun-kissed tones. These tones impart youth and health and minimize redness in the complexion.
Well sculpted and maintained brows will bring the illusion of lift for both the forehead and eye contour.
Are your eyebrows thinning? Apply Coconut Oil or Vitamin E oil every night before you sleep. This may help get the growth of your eyebrows back.
Dark circles under your eyes? Try eye serums, which will penetrate deeper into the skin. A medium-coverage liquid concealer will give the most natural results.
I will be using these tips to keep my skin beautiful this fall and winter. Your suggestions are always welcome, as I continue on my journey to enjoy life to the fullest. Let's have the very best 2016!