Just like you give your brain a break on the weekends and let your aching muscles rest after the gym, it’s important to give your skin the day off every once in a while.
Why your skin deserves a day off
If you think about it, modern-day life can be quite the ordeal for our skin. Here’s just a few of the things that can leave our skin feeling worn out:
- Stepping outside – you don’t know what’s going to happen, will it be cold harsh winds, smoggy city air or beaming sun rays, today? Whatever the weather, your skin needs to be ready.
- Back to the office – depending on who’s winning the thermostat debate today, your skin has to tackle moisture-zapping air-con or sweat-inducing heating.1
- Being social - let’s be honest, how many times has ‘one drink’ turned into stumbling in at 3am and hitting the hay with a full face of makeup on?
- Convenience food – home-cooked meals, what are those? After a hard day’s work, fast food and indulgent meals out have never looked so appealing – when all your skin wants is some fruit and veg!2
- Stuck in a rut – apply makeup, remove makeup, sleep, repeat – no wonder your skin is tired, Breaking the cycle every once in a while will do your skin a world of good.
The list of unintentional skin-sabotage is seemingly never-ending – but there is an easy way to make it up to your skin – give it the day off! Whether that’s a lazy day in nothing but your PJs and some moisturiser, or a tactical work-at-home day to revive your skin’s natural glow before a special event – giving your skin a rest should be your new secret weapon in your quest for healthy skin.
Decided to give you skin a well-deserved rest? Keep reading for some of our top tips to make the most out of your skin’s day off.
Put down the makeup
One of the best things you can do for your skin is give it a break from makeup. Don’t worry though, we’re not saying to go outside and burn your makeup bag and never so much as glance at a lip gloss ever again – it just makes sense to give your skin some space and allow it to breathe from time-to-time. Your skin’s day off provides the perfect opportunity.
Instead, why not treat yourself to a DIY facial? Here’s how:
- Start by cleansing your skin to make sure your face is totally make-up free and scrubbing away any dead skin with a natural exfoliator like Green People Fruit Scrub Exfoliator.
- Next, use your fingertips to massage a serum of your choice into your skin – moving upwards and outwards for up to five minutes to stimulate blood flow. Our Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Serum is great for plumping up your skin and brightening dull complexions.
- Finally, apply a mask, sit back and relax – we like Whamisa Real Kelp Masks – then rub in any residues with your fingertips.
If you haven’t got time for a full facial, simply pop on a facemask before you get in the shower so it do its thing while you wash your body.
Top tips:
- If you want to remove some facial hair, try to do this the night before your ‘day off’ to give your skin chance to recover and reduce the risk of irritation.
- Got a special event coming up? Try filling up a sink with ice-cold water and ice cubes, then splash your face 15 times with it before putting on your makeup.
Keep your vits topped up
Our skin, bones and hair require certain vitamins to stay strong and healthy. Two of the most important are vitamin D3 and B vitamins, which can sometimes be difficult to obtain through diet and lifestyle alone.- Vitamin D: we get most of our vitamin D through sunlight, so in the darker months it is quite easy for our levels to drop. Try taking BetterYou DLux1000 Vitamin D Oral Spray.
- B vitamins: keeping topped up on this family of vitamins is essential for healthy skin. Although most B vitamins can be obtained by a plant-based diet, Vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal products like meat and dairy, or fortified plant milks and faux meats. So if you don’t include any of these in your diet, it may be wise to consider a supplement like vegan-friendly Solgar Vitamin B-Complex.
Try using your rest day to top up other skin-supporting vitamins by indulging in some healthy-yet-tasty meals, for example:
- Breakfast: avocado and eggs on toast or a cinnamon bagel topped with almond butter for vitamin A
- Lunch: a salad with roasted broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, sunflower seeds and a generous helping of houmous or tahini for vitamin E
- Dinner: lentil dahl with served with rice and mint yoghurt
- Snacks: hazelnuts, almonds and fresh fruit
Top tips:
- Try to limit your refined sugar and fried food intake, as they can affect your natural collagen production and cause your skin to appear dull.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Aim for two litres of water a day for fresh and healthy skin all year round.
Show your scalp some TLC
Much like our facial skin, the skin on our scalp can benefit from some R&R.
Try avoiding harsh products like hairsprays, bleach and other chemical treatments, and get yourself some products that sink into your hair and scalp to provide much-needed nourishment.
If you have dry hair, try applying a moisturising mask - like Gallinée Scalp and Hair Care Mask – then gather your hair into a shower cap and leave it to work its magic throughout the day (you might want to draw the curtains!) With the exception of you fine-haired beauties – 20 minutes will probably do the trick. If you have a flaky scalp, try Dr Organic Hemp Oil Rescue & Restore Hair & Scalp Treatment for some relief. Discover more scalp treatments here.Love your lips
Keeping hydrated should be your top priority if you want luscious lips. As well as drinking lots of water, try using a lip balm like Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm to help reinforce your skin barrier and lock in all that moisture – especially in the colder months.We hope you and your skin enjoy your break - you deserve it!
Shop Natural BeautyLast updated: 16 September 2020
