Blog
How To Tackle Dehydrated Skin: Our Top 5 Tips
May 19, 2020Many of us are experiencing dry skin as lockdown takes its toll. Feeling stressed, taking less exercise, and spending more time indoors can all affect our skin. Here are our 5 top tips and favorite products to help keep your skin hydrated.
1. Say No To Steamy Showers
A steamy shower can often sound tempting - especially when it’s cold outside. However, hot water can actually strip the skin of its moisture, leaving it sore, red, and irritated. Instead, turn the temperature down a little. Lukewarm water is always best. Moisturise immediately after bathing to lock in hydration.
2. Remember your fruits and veggies!
A daily dose of fruit and vegetables is essential for your diet. There is a proportional amount of water in these foods that can be absorbed by the body, helping to keep you hydrated and give your skin the vitamins it needs for a natural, radiant glow.
3. Drink plenty of water
Hydration starts from within. Like the rest of your body, your skin is made up of water. We lose a significant amount of water every day, so it’s important to replenish your body to allow it to function at its best. The NHS suggests you should aim for 8 glasses a day.
4. Go easy on alcohol
One of the biggest effects alcohol has on the skin is dehydration. Consuming too much can lead to puffiness and inflammation. Alcoholic drinks are often high in sugar too, so overindulging too often can also lead to break-outs and dull complexion. It's important to enjoy a treat now and again but remember to stay mindful!
5. Invest in natural skincare products
Image: ARK Skincare's Hydrating Beauty Mist
Healthy, glowing skin is a great way to boost anybody's self-confidence. When we look good, we feel great. Take care of your skin by opting for products with a high percentage of natural ingredients to help nurture and hydrate your skin. ARK Skincare offers three different age intelligent ranges, specifically designed for each age group, helping to achieve beautiful skin at every age. We also have multiple other ranges, such as our Skin Perfectors to help you tackle specific skin concerns and our Skin Essentials to help you create the perfect daily skincare routine.
Here are some of our top picks to help you keep your skin hydrated:
Hydrating Serum
Cocoons skin with hydration
Our best-selling serum instantly hydrates dry, thirsty skin and locks in moisture. Ingredients include Laminaria Algae and cucumber extract which help to freshen and restore the skin’s texture and suppleness. Add 2-3 drops directly onto clean skin before moisturiser or blend with moisturiser and apply together.
Reverse Gravity Eye Cream
Instantly tightens and hydrates skin, while fading dark circles & diminishing puffiness
This instant-effect eye cream contains multiple powerhouse ingredients to help lift, tone and hydrate the eye area. BeautifuleyeTM, created from Persian silk tree extract, is proven to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, while Amino acids boost moisture levels to plump skin and minimize signs of aging. Aloe Vera helps to calm and nurture dry, sensitive eyes.
Hydration Injection Masque
A Rejuvenating treatment to restore vibrancy
An intensive multivitamin hydration injection masque to quench skin, plump wrinkles and restore vibrancy. This rejuvenating treatment masque is the ideal weekly pick me up for skin which looks tired, stressed or lacking in radiance.
Rich in hyaluronic acid, this is the perfect product to drench skin with moisture and provide protection against water loss. Give your skin a boost with vitamin C to fade pigmentation, Vitamin E to prevent free radical damage and Vitamin B5 for smoothness.
References:
Alyaka - 5 No-Nonsense Habits To Keep Skin Hydrated Naturally
Insider - Here's How Cutting Out Alcohol Can Affect Your Skin
Elle - Real Affects Alcohol Can Have On Your Skin
Cosmopolitan - How To Hydrate Your Skin
6 Tips to Save Dry & Sore Hands
Apr 03, 2020Over-washed, sore hands? Our top tips will help…
Hand washing has never been so important. However, over washing causes dryness and irritation leaving many suffering with soreness. Here we explain simple steps you can take to protect and soothe your hands.
But first, why are we having to wash our hands so much?
We find ourselves in unprecedented times, and all of our lives have suddenly changed. The first message we received as soon as word spread about the COVID-19 virus was to wash our hands. Washing hands is essential to stop the spread of the virus. The COVID-19 virus itself is covered in a layer of sticky molecules, which is how it so easily attaches to surfaces and clings to your hands. The good news is this sticky coating is made up of molecules that are also attracted to soap which can destroy it. Using soap breaks down the outer layer of the virus, allowing it to be dissolved by water, washed away, and destroyed.
When you wash your hands with soap and water, you surround any microorganisms on your skin with soap molecules. The hydrophobic tails of the free-floating soap molecules attempt to evade water; in the process, they wedge themselves into the lipid envelopes of certain microbes and viruses, prying them apart.
“They (the soap molecules) act like crowbars and destabilise the whole system.”
Professor Pall Thordarson, acting head of chemistry at the University of New South Wales.
More details on this can be found in this article from the Independent on Soap, Hand Washing & Covid-19.
But what if hand washing facilities are not available? Can hand sanitizer gels help too? The answer is yes, if they are at least 60% alcohol based. The alcohol can effectively kill the virus but you need to fully coat your hands, so you need to use the gel liberally, and, let it dry naturally, to take effect. The problem with gels is that the alcohol, the very ingredient that makes them effective, is incredibly unkind to your skin. Skin soaked in alcohol will show the signs of dryness and cellular damage. Obviously this is preferable over the transmission of any Coronavirus, but it can lead to irritation and soreness, meaning hand washing with soap is always the preferred option, if you have the choice. You can learn more here.
Hand washing needs to be thorough to be effective (see more advice on this here) so it can unfortunately also lead to dry irritated hands. In extreme circumstances they may become so dry they become red, cracked and incredibly sore. It can even lead to conditions such as contact dermatitis. This is because excessive cleaning can strip away natural oils along with the dirt and germs.
SO what can we do when we have to be washing our hands but don’t want to suffer from the associated side effects? Here are our top tips:
1. Use tepid rather than hot water to wash your hands
Hot water strips the hand of essential moisture. Make sure you use lukewarm water. This is a top tip for your whole body as very hot baths and showers do the same.
2. Use a moisturising soap or hand wash
Look for products with shea, olive oil or aloe vera and avoid harsh synthetic chemicals. Soaps all work in the same way, and those with natural hydrators will prevent dehydration. You may like to try the ARK Skincare Body Beautiful Vitality Hand & Body Wash
And don’t forget to use a nail brush to clean under your nails too. Lots of us have one lurking in a bathroom cupboard – time to get it out!
3. Pat instead of rubbing your hands dry
After washing, gently pat your hands dry. Don’t rub them vigorously. Studies have found the most hygienic way is to use paper towels, but be gentle with them to save making your hands sore. Remember, whilst hand dryers can seem efficient, they can be the cause of increased skin irritation. Read more about this here.
4. Moisturise your hands straight after washing
To prevent excessive dryness, and to lock in moisture, use a good quality hand cream straight after washing and frequently throughout the day. Have your own tube in your bag or pocket to minimise contamination from sharing with others. Keep a hand cream by your bed to give them a good coating before you go to sleep too – maybe treat yourself to a nightly hand massage to soothe and calm yourself before bed?
The cream should be free from known irritants and contain ingredients to reinforce the skin barrier. Learn more about our award winning Hand Cream here
5. Try a weekly hand treatment
Don’t save your exfoliator and masque just for your face. You should give your hands a weekly treatment too. Exfoliate away dry skin to allow the moisturisers to work. You can also treat your hands to a hydrating masque. Smooth the masque on and place your hands in a small plastic bag, or even a large sock, whilst you let the active ingredients get to work. Your hands will emerge feeling super soft and any irritation will be calmed. Click through here to find out more about our exfoliator and masque products.
6. Wear gloves
Gloves are a must! Wear them for household chores, especially the washing up, or if working in the garden. They will save your hands from further wear and tear.
In summary, effective hand washing, and good hand care, will be a lesson we have all learnt only too well by the end of this current pandemic. Moving forward our hands will continue to take the brunt of the battle against the transmission of viruses. Take steps to protect and nourish them now, and save yourself from the uncomfortable side effects which can occur.
To learn more about the battle against coronavirus and the latest government advise please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Shop ARK Skincare's Hand Care Collection HERE
100% Vegan Friendly. Award Winning. Made in the UK.
Have you lost your usual glow? Is your skin looking tired?
Jul 19, 2018There may be a variety of reasons why your skin has lost its usual healthy glow.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Ask yourself the following questions:
Are you dehydrated? Drinking water is essential to happy healthy skin. We know we should drink two litres a day and that it will benefit our overall health in a number of ways, but in the course of a busy day it can sometimes be hard to achieve. How to fix it: Carry a water bottle with you at all times and take regular sips - you will feel and see the benefit. In addition make sure you do not use cleansers which strip out moisture from the skin but instead look to cleansers which balance and hydrate. Plus use hydrating treatment products such as a serum or a hydration masque.
Do you live in a polluted area? If you live in an urban area your skin will be exposed to pollutants which may cause daily damage. How to fix it: Ensure you use antioxidant rich skincare products to combat the damaging effects of free radicals. Look for products which specifically mention anti pollution systems and incorporate a protective serum or finishing product into your regime. BUT most importantly, remember to remove all daily grime at the end of the day. Follow a double cleanse routine to leave your skin free of all make up, dirt and daily pollution.
Do you exfoliate? When old skin cells build up on the surface of the skin it can look dull and tired and can become congested. How to fix it: Exfoliate regularly to remove dead cells and encourage new cells to the top. Your skin will be left looking fresh and healthy. Make sure you use products as directed and do not over stimulate sensitive skins. Look for innovative exfoliators with a triple action effect incorporating physical, enzymatic and fruit acid exfoliants.
Have you slept? Sleep deprivation can result in reduced circulation and raised stress hormones both of which make skin appear dull. How to fix it: Obviously it is important to make sure you get enough rest to see your skin's healthy glow restored. However, if your lifestyle means this is temporarily impossible, give yourself a boost with an eye cream to lift and open your eyes and make you feel wide awake even if you are not! Plus use a serum to combat the effects of lifestyle stress. You may also wish to add an instant glow.
Has your skin changed with age? As we age our hormone balance changes causing skin to appear dull and also causing areas of hyper pigmentation. How to fix it: Use skincare specific to the age you are look for ingredients with skin brightening properties to help address hyperpigmentation marks and always protect against damaging UV rays.
To find out more about pigmentation & dull skin, click here.
Want an immediate quick fix? Try ARK Skincare Radiance Serum - the one for glow seekers. Gives and instant healthy look to even the most tired skin.
"Radiance Serum is a miracle in a bottle. Obsessed is an understatement!" Stephanie Pratt, Actress