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Step Up Your SPF For Summer

skincare advice, skincare products, SPF, SPF products, SPF tips, suncare, sunscreen

We recently wrote about the benefits of using antioxidants and how they can help work against damaging elements such as UV light. So now it’s time to delve into SPF and what you can do to enjoy the sun safely.

Ideally, you’re taking sun care protection measures all year round – but with summer here, it’s especially important to be diligent with SPF in your skincare routine. UV rays are incredibly harmful to your skin. Over time, too much sun exposure can cause:
- Early signs of aging
- Uneven skin tone
- Dark spots
- Skin cancer in severe cases
Luckily, avoiding these issues is easy. Here are our top tips.

Use The Right Type Of Sun Protection

Sun exposure isn’t all bad. In fact, a small amount of sun exposure can provide us with Vitamin D – and Vitamin D helps regulate calcium levels and phosphate in our bodies. These nutrients help build and maintain healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

However, as we mentioned earlier, it’s ideal to take preventative measures all year, because – even in the winter months – the light can be incredibly powerful. Snow can reflect upto 80% of UV light. So if you’re spending an extended amount of time outdoors, then be sure to lather up exposed parts of your body.

Signs of sunburn:
- Pain
- Blisters
- Tight or itchy skin
- Dehydration
- Red skin. Sometimes hard to notice in the bright sunlight.
- Hot skin
- Peeling. This is your body shedding dead skin cells.
It’s important to take special care of the skin on your face to protect against sun damage. Our absolute favourite product for sun protection is the Eminence Organics Sun Defense Minerals SPF 30.

Two great sunscreens to add to your SPF routine to avoid skin damage on the rest of your body are Eminence Organics Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 or the Eminence Organics Tropical Vanilla Body Sunscreen SPF 32.

Apply Moisturizer – But Before Or After SPF?

It can be confusing whether or not to wear moisturizer, or when to apply it, if you’re also applying sunscreen.

Let us help clear this up! It’s recommended that you apply sunscreen as a final step in your skincare routine. Layering sunscreen on top of your other products will seal in moisture and provide a protective barrier.

Alternatively, consider simplifying your routine with a 2-in-1 product: A moisturizer with SPF protection within it.

We suggest trying the following nourishing and hydrating moisturizers from Eminence Organics:
Once you have applied your moisturizer/SPF, allow it to be fully absorbed for a few minutes before applying any other products, including your primer, such as Eminence Organics Lilikoi Light Defense Primer SPF 23.

Need a recommendation on which moisturizer is right for you? Patricia has over 25 years experience as an esthetician, and is happy to help!

Simplify Your Makeup And SPF Routine With A CC Cream

Why not try swapping out your regular foundation and utilizing your makeup products with one of these tinted moisturizers?
- Eminence Organics Vanilla Latte Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25
- Eminence Organics Caramel Latte Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25 (light to medium)
The benefits of using a CC cream over a regular foundation:
- Acts As A Moisturizer: A CC cream relieves your skin of dryness and will leave it feeling nourished and hydrated.
- Replaces Your Foundation: Will help even out your skin tone, reduce any redness while leaving you with a sheer natural finish.
- Adds SPF Protection: Each bottle offers up SPF 25 so your skin is protected from harmful UV rays.
- Saves Time: 3 benefits in one product will save you time on your daily makeup routine.
Makeup in one

We love the idea of simplifying our skincare routine and Eminence Organics Sun Defense Minerals SPF 30 is by far our favourite. These natural minerals will not only protect your skin with SPF 30, it will also leave your skin looking flawless with a silky matte finish. And it’s water resistant!

Want a beautiful glow but want to avoid the harsh effects of UV light on your skin? Well The Facial Room is very excited to announce that we’re now carrying Luna Bronze – a luxurious collection of high quality self-tanning products.

Feel free to reach out with questions on SPF and how to integrate our products into your SPF routine:
- DM us on Instagram
- sending us a Facebook message
- email patricia@thefacialroom.ca
How to Keep Your Skin Healthy While Wearing a Face Mask

skin care advice, skin care products

Over the last three months, I have had many healthcare workers reach out to me wondering how to care for their skin while wearing a face mask all day. And now that we are being asked to wear face coverings in public places, or to doctor’s appointments and salons, more and more individuals have reached out to ask for skincare advice on what to do about their irritated, reactive skin and subsequent breakouts.

It’s becoming such a prevalent issue that a new term has been coined: mask-ne!

It’s more important than ever to be adaptive in your skincare regimen, as changes in your day to day life can really affect your skin. Perhaps you are showering more often now, or, like my daughter who works in the restaurant industry, you are now wearing a mask for hours each day.

There are a few steps you can take to prevent mask-ne and to help soothe your irritated skin.

What is the best fabric for your skin and to prevent transmission?

While silk is the most gentle on your skin, it doesn’t give the best protection against transmission from aerosolized particles. Simple materials may be best. Canadian government guidelines say reusable cloth masks should be made of at least two layers of tightly-woven fabric.

I recommend 100% cotton masks to my customers, as the material is breathable, easy to wash and provides the best protection against transmission.

I am currently giving away one free 100% cotton face mask on all orders over $199 until Sunday July 12 2020. The Facial Room Face Mask is washable, reusable and fashionable. It’s made with two layers of breathable, high quality 100% cotton and has a handy filter pocket so you can add your own filter between the layers. This is a non-medical grade mask that is gentle on the skin and will reduce the risk of irritation to your skin with long-term use.

We’ve put this mask to the test. My daughter was wearing a polyester blend mask for work and was coming home each night with more and more breakouts. Since switching to this face mask, her breakouts have lessened and her skin is far less irritated. We have provided this face mask to several hair stylists with great results.

I see the Facial Room Cotton Face Masks as one more way to give back to our community. Just as I was committed to giving away free Eminence Organics Tea Tree Mint Hand Cleanser when supply was scarce, providing skin-saving moisturizers to our frontline workers whose hands became raw and irritated due to excessive washing, I am excited to offer these proper-fitting, high quality face masks to prevent skin irritations and breakouts. If you must wear a mask, this is the mask you should wear!

What to do if your skin becomes raw, broken or irritated from wearing a mask?

If you already have raw skin and/or mask-ne from wearing a face mask, here are some steps you can take to soothe your irritated skin and prevent future breakouts:

Irritated Skin

If your skin is irritated, dry and red due to wearing your face mask daily, add these products to your daily routine to soothe and hydrate your skin:

The Eminence Organics Rosehip & Lemongrass Repair Balm is a revolutionary super balm that uses the power of a Natural Repair Complex for dry skin needing relief. Just a dab will do! This repair balm is wonderful at reducing redness caused by dry skin.

Add the Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum or Eminence Organics Firm Skin Acai Booster-Serum to your daily routine to plump, soothe and hydrate your skin. Both are packed with antioxidants, which help improve the overall appearance of your skin.

An organic moisturizer will improve your skin’s natural barriers and soothe irritated skin. The Eminence Organics Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer will soothe and hydrate sensitive skin and alleviate redness. The Eminence Organics Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream for Face & Neck is a lovely moisturizer to apply each night to help repair your skin.

A chemical peel can help slough off dry skin and promote cell turnover. If you have sensitive skin, try the Eminence Organics Calm Skin Chamomile Exfoliating Peel. The Eminence Organics Arctic Berry Peel & Peptide Illuminating System is a great 3-step system, perfect for those who aren’t able to get into the spa for a facial right now.

A masque packed with vitamin C will reduce the appearance of redness and soothe inflammation. Try the Eminence Organics Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Masque, or the Eminence Organics Rosehip and Maize Exfoliating Masque.

Breakouts / Mask-ne

Mask-ne breakouts can be painful. First of all, make sure you are washing your face mask before reuse. This will help eliminate the bacteria that gets trapped in the mask. Then, try adding some of these products to your skincare routine.

Serums

Serums are concentrated nutrients designed to target specific areas of concern on your skin. For breakouts, the Eminence Organics Clear Skin Willow Bark Booster-Serum, Eminence Organics Eight Greens Youth Serum, and the Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum are all great options.

Masques

The Eminence Organics Clear Skin Probiotic Masque helps with yeast overgrowth that is caused by the moisture trapped inside of your face mask. Cooling cucumber soothes and refining yogurt helps exfoliate and eliminate the appearance of blemishes. It’s powerful enough to clear up your breakouts, but gentle enough that you can use it several times a week.

Toniques, Mists and Cleansers

I like to pack my mist in my purse when I leave the house. A spritz between appointments can make all the difference when it comes to preventing mask-ne! Try one of these:
- Eminence Organics Stone Crop Hydrating Mist – delivers revitalizing, healing and toning qualities to help reveal a more vibrant complexion. Great for all skin types.
- Eminence Organics Soothing Chamomile Tonique – A soothing and calming tonique, great for irritated skin.
- Eminence Organics Red Currant Mattifying Mist – A refreshing spray that energizes skin, featuring our exclusive Youth Shield Antioxidant Complex which hydrates, invigorates and promotes the look of elasticity. Great for normal to oily skin.
- Eminence Organics Lime Refresh Tonique – A refreshing and balancing tonique for all skin types, particularly normal to oily skin.
Another option is to take the Eminence Organics Rice Water 3 in 1 Cleansing Water with you for the day, because you do not have to wash it off after use. That means you can cleanse, tone and hydrate your skin on the go, while you are on break at work or between appointments. It’s gentle and soothing.

If you have breakouts and irritated skin due to wearing a face mask and are unsure which products might be right for your skin, please reach out by email or send us a DM on social media. We are happy to provide a free skin consultation and get you back to clear, glowing skin!