Synegy Skin Care Blog

The importance of a good skin care routine.

Everyone would like to have a clear and healthy complexion, but not everyone puts in the required effort to achieve this. A regular and suitable skin care routine is essential in order to achieve and maintain this.  A daily routine should be followed to get the best results. This includes cleansing, toning and moisturising twice daily. The skin also needs to be exfoliated on a weekly basis, to aid desquamation (removal of dead skin cells). 
It is important to know your skin type and its requirements, so that you can choose the most effective products. Understanding your skin will also help you avoid choosing products that have a detrimental effect on your skin. It is equally important to understand how your skin changes and what causes these changes. Lifestyle has a major influence on the skin, along with diet, age, exercise, sleep and even the seasons. Our skin is exposed to varying temperatures over the course of the year, from season to season, central heating/air conditioning and foreign holidays. These situations create an environment in which the skin is constantly having to adapt and regenerate, yet one expects it to do so in a healthy manner. Some of these stresses can be avoided, such as sunscreen for UV exposure. However, it is unrealistic to avoid every situation that has a negative impact on our skin. This is why a good skin care regime is of the utmost importance. It will give nourishment as needed, replace lost moisture and aid in skin regeneration. In short, this means feeding your skin, giving it enough water to stay hydrated and helping the skins own natural ability to produce new skin cells.
 

Cleansing
Cleansing is the first vital step in your daily skin care regime. Proper cleansing with products specifically for your skin type will improve the overall appearance of your skin. Daily cleansing is essential to remove dirt, bacteria, sweat, air pollution, excess oils and in addition cleansing has a gentle exfoliating effect on the skins surface. 
If done properly, it will not only remove dirt, but also allow effective penetration of the ingredients in you toner and moisturiser applied after cleansing. This needs to be conducted twice daily, every day. It is also important to use water that is not too hot as it can lead to enlarged/broken capillaries and also strip the skin of its own natural protective oils. Many people damage their own skin during the cleansing process. A good moisturiser is viewed as essential by most people, however, cleansing is where the skin is most likely to get stripped and irritated. This is why the choice of cleanser is vital, it need to be suitable for your skin type and not contain harsh detergent based ingredients. Removing excess oils and dirt from the skin can be accomplished without harsh soaps and strong cleansing creams that dry out the skin. This drying affect leaves the skin exposed to bacteria, cellular damage, and prone to fine lines and wrinkles. A common mistake for those that have oily skin, is to use a product with harsh ingredients that strip away too much oil. The skin will always try to compensate such a drastic change and results in the person's skin becoming oilier. Products for oily skin should help rebalance the skin, not make it feel under attack.

Eye make up can be removed with specially formulated eye creams, as some facial cleansers are not suited to be applied to the eye area. At Synergy skin care, we choose to remove eye make-up with jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is an adaptagenic oil, this means that it is suited to all skin types as it helps rebalance. While removing make-up, it will also help nourish the delicate eye area without congesting it. 

At Synergy Skin Care, we have devised facial washes and bars that are designed to clean the skin, without stripping it of its own protective nourishing oils. These products contain essential oil and carrier oils to address the cause of a skin condition, not just the effects. These should be lathered between hands with warm water and applied to the face, using gentle circular motions for about 20-30 seconds. It should be removed by splashing the face with warm water as necessary to rinse clear. The face should then be patted dry with a soft towel.

One more thing to remember before cleansing is that proper cleansing starts with clean hands. This prevents the transfer of bacteria from your hands to your face.

Toning
Toning is the second step in the skin care routine. Toning is not essential for everyone. It is only really necessary for those with exceptionally oily skin. However, all skin types can benefit from the use of a toner specifically suited to their skin type. For oily skin types it helps control the release of excess sebum and refines pores. For dry, sensitive and mature skin types, it has a calming balancing action and also helps replace lost moisture. The properties of our toners are to address the cause of skin conditions and help rebalance. A lot of toners contain alcohol. The toners used by Synergy Skin Care are alcohol free and sourced from reputable suppliers.

 
Moisturising
The third and last step of a good daily skin care regime is to moisturise. This should be specially formulated for your skin type. It should also be solely for facial skin. Hand and body lotions are not suitable for use on your face.
Facial moisturizers will hydrate the skin while keeping it moist and nourished throughout the day or evening.
Moisturizers protect your skin from the environment and are a critical part of your daily routine. Elements like the cold, the wind, the sun, and harsh cleansers can wreak havoc on our skin. When we are exposed to these conditions day after day, the impact can really take a toll on our faces and our bodies. Thankfully, a good moisturizer can replenish lost moisture while keeping our skin on a smooth and healthy track. Regardless of individual skin type, it is critical to moisturize our skin on a daily basis.

Do not over moisturize if you have dry skin. It is a mistake made by many to think that if you moisturize your face all day long with a "normal" moisturizer you are doing the right thing. You should be using a moisturizer specially formulated for dry skin and thus will only need to apply twice a day same as everyone else. And conversely, do not under moisturize your face if you have oily skin. The same principle applies. A good moisturiser will have calming and hydrating properties like Aloe Vera, a humectant (traps moisture in the skin) such as glycerine and also a good skin conditioner such as shea butter.
 
Exfoliation/Deep cleansing mask
Exfoliation is the process of removing the dead skin cells to reveal the fresh healthy skin below. This process is called desquamation. It is a welcome addition to any skin care regime and can result in the skin looking a lot fresher and more radiant. Your skin is constantly renewing and replenishing itself, creating fresher, softer looking skin. Exfoliating helps slough off the old dull layer, to reveal the new skin underneath.
But not all exfoliators are suitable for the face. Many on the market can be harsh and abrasive, actually doing more damage than good. The skin on your face is fragile, and using one that's too abrasive has serious consequences. They can cause microscopic tears in the skin, not obvious to the human eye. These tears can allow bacteria to enter causing skin infections or eruptions.
Deep cleansing and exfoliating is a necessary step for all skin types. Dry skin benefits the most because a build-up of dead skin cells prevents moisture from penetrating. For oily skin, deep cleaning gets rid of oil build up while exfoliating helps unclog pores, which can cause breakouts. Sensitive skin can also benefit from deep cleansing and exfoliating, but only a few times a week. Synergy Skin Care organic mud mask is a completely unique product. It exfoliates and deep cleanses at the same time and doesn't require any friction to achieve this result. Simply apply the mud mask, cover with a warm face towel and wash off 15 minutes later to reveal the rejuvenated new layer. The naturally occurring minerals and silicones feed and nourish the skin along with boosting blood and lymphatic circulation. This mud mask need only be once or twice a week.