Organic Skincare Routines
We are in the midst of a clean beauty revolution, which is great for all of us skincare lovers.
You may be noticing that more and more brands (including ourselves!) are offering cleaner, more natural ingredients, going synthetic-free, and adding words like ‘organic’ to their labels. So, we wanted to debunk some of the terminology, and help you understand what organic skincare is, and why it’s important.
What makes a product organic?
As stated by the Soil Association, ingredients can only be deemed ‘organic’ if they have been farmed without the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), herbicides, synthetic fertilisers and many more nasties. Certified organic beauty products will also not have been tested on animals, will not contain synthetics like parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or fragrances and no nanoparticles.
What are the benefits of organic skincare?
Our skin is a living organism which is a selectively-permeable membrane. This means it soaks up and absorbs ingredients which are small enough to travel through the membrane - aka our moisturisers! Given that most of us have a morning and evening skincare routine, we are exposing ourselves to all sorts of chemicals in quite considerable quantities. This means that if our products contain harmful synthetic ingredients, this can cause a toxic build up over many years, potentially leading to sensitivities and irritations.
What should a good skincare routine look like?
Step 1: Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a very important step, since it removes the top layer of dead skin cells, removing trapped dirt from your pores and helps promote cell turnover. This keeps your skin looking fresh and will help you achieve that natural glow. This step is also really important for ensuring that ingredients in your skincare products are able to penetrate your skin better, since they can be more easily absorbed, once all the dirt is removed.
If you have dry/sensitive skin, you only need to exfoliate once a week, as you will have less oil build-up, and over-exfoliation can cause the skin to dry out and thin.
If you have oily/acne-prone skin, you can exfoliate every 2-3 days since you are more likely to have regular oil build-up. Be careful not to over-exfoliate and listen to your skin. If it becomes red it’s likely you’re scrubbing too hard. A gentle exfoliator can be used daily, as it is less abrasive on the skin.
Step 2: Cleanse
Unlike exfoliation, cleansing can be done every day in both your morning and evening routines. It goes without saying that a cleanser’s purpose is to remove dirt and excess oil from the skin, preventing pores from getting clogged. Look for a cleanser which doesn’t contain alcohol and has lots of additional nourishing ingredients. Our organic soap is perfect for the job - packed with vitamins and antioxidants which help protect the skin barrier and keep it moisturised. It’s also suitable for all skin types!
Step 3: Tone
A good quality toner will help balance the pH of your skin, which reduces the chances of developing skin irritations. A good toner will contain beneficial ingredients like antioxidants, anti-inflammatories as well as moisturising ingredients.
For people with dry/sensitive skin, it is best to look for toners which include moisturising ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid. For people with oily/acne prone skin, it is best to use toners which contain anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Step 4: Moisturise
Perhaps the most indulgent step, the moisturiser! Regardless of skin type, we need to replenish moisture lost during the day and during cleansing steps. Wrinkles develop when the skin becomes dehydrated - think raisins here.. By keeping the skin as hydrated as possible, we are essentially slowing down the ageing process. At Maiiro, our anti-ageing moisturiser contains our patented ingredient Kelpogen5, a delicate blend of 5 seaweeds, which helps to smooth fine lines and protects against signs of ageing.
In the morning, it’s best to start with a moisturising serum. Serums contain higher concentrations of actives and deliver lots of good vitamins to your skin. Ideally, this should then be followed with an SPF moisturiser. We recommend using an SPF 50 every day regardless of the climate you live in, since this offers you the most protection against ageing and will keep your skin looking youthful and radiant for longer!
For the evening routine, a heavier moisturiser can be used to replenish moisture levels overnight. Look for moisturisers which contain high concentrations of actives, such as vitamins and antioxidants. For oily/acne prone skin we recommend our anti-blemish moisturiser which contains proven anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as Astaxanthin, Burriti and Tea Tree Oil which will help reduce any redness and irritation. For dry and sensitive skin types, our anti-ageing cream provides the perfect combination of hydrating ingredients, including Vitamin E and essential fatty acids.
We hope this will inspire you to start shopping organic and find the perfect routine for you!