With Sara of Tailor Skincare

I find healthy skin with a dewy glow almost impossible to achieve in winter, so I spoke to Sara of NZ natural skincare brand Tailor, to get some tips for you.

I have sensitive, dry skin living in Queenstown, and struggle to find great products that work. But! Tailor skincare face oil and masks have really helped me this winter, so Sara knows her stuff! Check out her tips to keep your skin healthy this winter.

1. What's the number one problem people have with their skin in winter & why?

Definitely dryness. In winter, your sebum production slows down and you sweat less. Sebum is the skin’s natural oil and it mixes together with sweat to form a protective layer called the acid mantle. The acid mantle acts as a protective barrier to prevent water loss from the skin and it also helps to defend your skin against environmental irritants. 

2. What are the common mistakes people make with their skincare?

Over exfoliation, over cleansing and avoiding oils. Daily exfoliation can be too much for your skin, even gentle exfoliation. Everyone's skin is different but as a general rule I recommend exfoliation every other day with a gentle (non microbead) exfoliant like Tailor Dry Cleanse (but no more than this). Over exfoliation can lead to dryness and irritation because it compromises your skin’s acid mantle. 

Over cleansing can also lead to dryness and irritation.

Using oil on your skin doesn't actually make it oily! Using a gentle oil cleanser or facial oil can be a great way to rebalance oily breakout prone skin or bring dry skin back into balance by supporting the skin.

3. Top tips for looking after skin this winter?

• Clean the skin and remove make up with an oil cleanser to keep the skin nourished and balanced without destroying the protective layer.

• Get a good quality facial oil. Be sure to check the ingredients list because not all facial oils are created equal.

• Sweat it out! Go to a hot yoga class, have a blast on the treadmill or relax in the sauna, whatever you do make sure you sweat it out, not only to cleanse your skin but to help your skin rebuild it’s protective layer - the acid mantle.

4. Why are natural products better for winter skin problems?

Natural skincare which contains good quality (i.e cold pressed) plant based oils is beneficial for the skin because the fatty acids in these oils will help to boost your skin’s metabolism, helping to give your skin energy to regenerate itself.

Mineral makeup and products are bad for your skin. Mineral oil is a by-product of the petrochemical industry and a common ingredient in many skincare formulas. Rather than it creating moisture though, it simply forms a barrier, preventing water loss, but clogging the skin barrier.

4. Do chemicals impact hormones as the media tells us they do?

Some chemicals mimic hormones - oestrogen in particular. These chemicals are referred to as xenoestrogens when they are synthetic (man made) and phytoestrogens when coming from a plant source. These oestrogen mimicking chemicals can build up in your system putting pressure on your liver to detoxify them. In abundance they have been associated with “man boobs” in men and PMS, bloating, painful periods, weight gain, headaches and anxiety in women. You’ll find phytoestrogens in soy, tempeh, wheat, barley and flax.

Chemicals with xenoestrogenic effects include some parabens (a common preservative in personal care), 4-MBC (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor; a synthetic SPF), Phthalates (a plasticising material found in mascara and nail polish) and tri-sodium phosphate (TSP; used as a cleaning agent, food additive and stain remover). Please note this list is by no means exhaustive and I urge you to do your own research. 

6. Special offer for the Aprivé Wellness Community!

And for the Aprive Wellness community we have a limited time 10% discount offer. Simply use the code: Aprive at checkout between now and Aug 31st 2016.

We have a brand new product launch in the works. Check out the facebook page to stay in the loop: https://www.facebook.com/events/729962783773206/

Thank you so much to Sara for all the great info! Tailor is one of those special brands that are hard to find - definitely check them out online.