Skincare Masterclass

Skin. You would think it’s pretty straight forward to look after, but no, that’s not the case at all. I mean once you have the correct knowledge about your own skin and what it actually needs you’ll be fine (for the most part).

The skin-thing can be overwhelming and sometimes we can be so easily influenced to buy products that what our skin actually needs doesn’t come into consideration.

My wish for you is that you learn about your own skin, your skin type and what conditions it is prone to and learn some skin-things basics. Because when you can embrace your own beautiful natural glow,  your confidence shines through.

By the end of this Masterclass you can expect to know:

To begin this Masterclass, I suggest you grab:

As I briefly mentioned cleansers, exfoliants & moisturisers work on the epidermis. As well as other products, but your serums & elixirs work on the dermis layers of the skin. Most masques will also target the dermis layers of the skin as well.

In the wonderful world of skincare, it’s important to have some basic knowledge when it comes to the skin structure so you can ensure you are using all the correct skincare products. Don’t worry if you’re already confused because I’ve got some really cool ‘Skin + Glow Guides’ that you can download and save to your phone. Skin Types.

Do you even know? Often I find people confuse the ‘condition’ of their skin with their ‘skin type’. In the simplest way, I’m going to break this down for you.

Your Skin Type is genetic – this means you are born with your skin type and it actually does not change (although, as we become more mature the skin tends to become dryer due to less sebum production) and it is determined by the amount of oil (sebum) it secretes.

Just like everything else, our skin ages – this is inevitable. The more we can care for our skin and prevent ageing the better our skin is going to look and feel – for much, much longer!

Of course, it doesn’t ‘just’ come down to the products we use, there are other lifestyle factors to take into consideration. But before we look at products, treatments & specific ingredients, let’s take a look at our how skin ages (YAY…haha) over the decades of our life.

Daily Skincare

At the very least cleansing, toning and moisturising should be done twice daily. It is important to be using the correct products recommended for your skin type and, also any conditions you might be having a drama with. We will come back to skin conditions soon.

It is also important to ensure you are using both day and night moisturisers because day and night cremes are designed differently and will also contain different ingredients.

Face and eye serums can also be added into your daily skincare regime to suit, of course, I highly recommend using at least one serum.

Serums are designed to work on the deeper layers of the skin. We cleanse, tone and moisturise the surface of our skin to look after it and protect it. When we add in serums we are essentially trying to ‘change’ the skin. You see serums penetrate down deep into the skin to help with a range of conditions (like firming or hydrating) and they contain certain ‘active ingredients’ that help make these amazing changes. It’s super important to remember to use a moisturiser as well as a serum because serums don’t contain any moisture, therefore they do nothing to protect that surface layer.

So whilst it’s a non-negotiable to cleanse, tone & moisturiser it’s also highly recommended to add a serum into the mix as well.

What exactly should a ‘Daily Skincare Regime’ look like?

Weekly Skincare

Now, depending on your skin type and condition. There’s a couple of DIY skin treatments that you want to be covering at least weekly and they are;

Exfoliation – Exfoliation is the process of removing surface layers of dead skin cells. If you’re not exfoliating the skin regularly the skin’s surface will become thicker, pores will become blocked and your other skincare products will not be as effective.

There are different type of exfoliants, for example, abrasive exfoliants – you know the kind with little granules that cause friction between your fingertips and the skin.

Then we also have chemical exfoliants (AHA’s & BHA’s) which essentially dissolve the dead skin cells, excess oil, dirt & impurities from the skin.

Both oily and dry skin types can benefit from chemical exfoliation, as this type of exfoliation doesn’t irritate the surface layers of the skin and is also quite effective.

Masques – Let me introduce you to the wonderful world of masques! Masques are designed to work on the deeper layers of the skin (you know where all the magic happens!). You can masque for a range of different skin conditions and you can be using multiple masques on a weekly basis. For example as a general rule for my own skin I will usually masque twice per week – once for a deep cleanse/skin detox and once for a boost of hydration. You can also use masques for skin brightening, nourishing, calming, moisturising, firming – you name it!

Remember for both exfoliating and masquing your skin type and condition will determine which products are going to be best suited for your skin, and also how often you will need to do these DIY skin treatments. Most skins will benefit from at least 1 – 2 exfoliations and 1 masque per week.

DIY Facial Treatment

Remember earlier when I mentioned that sensitive is not a skin type? Well, that’s right – it’s what we can a skin condition. There are only 5 skin types and you are born with your skin type and it generally does not change. Skin conditions, however, can come and go and can be influenced by internal and external factors. The good news is that all skin conditions can be treated and most often with the correct skincare products. Let’s talk a look at some of the most common skin conditions and what my top tips are for keeping them away!

Blemished Skin

• Usually affects oily skin types
• Prone to blackheads and pimples
• Congestion in the T-Zone
• Enlarged pores
• Thick, coarse complexion
• Heavy shine or oily T-Zone

Skin congestion happens when the pore/s becomes blocked with dead skin cells/excess oil and that dead skin and oil hardens to form a ‘blackhead’. This can then lead to blemishes and skin breakouts. Cleansing and (careful) exfoliation are key here to keep the skin as clean as possible. Cleanse twice daily and probably best to opt for a foaming or gel-based cleanser rather than a crème one. Always remove make-up and if you are using a cleanser to remove your make-up remember to double-cleanse!

DIY Skin Fix

Start your ‘skin detox’ with Platinum Detox Concentrate. 2-3 drops of this skin decongesting goodness adding to your P.M. regime will have your skin absolutely glowing in 2-3 weeks.

Pigmentation/Sun Damage

• Uneven skin tone
• Dark or uneven pigmentation
• Premature ageing – more prominent lines/wrinkles
• Thick leathery appearance
• Lack of elasticity

(Hyperpigmentation) is the excess production of melanin causing discolouration of the skin. Do you know those brown spots that save suddenly been appearing? This is from previous sun damage, it can take years for sun damage to come to the surface of the skin. Pigmentation can be caused by a few things but here we are talking about pigmentation caused by sun damage. The obvious preventative here is SPF – a premium quality SPF. I really love Smart Shield Protection Crème and I myself use this moisturiser 365 days per year!

Sun damage is difficult to treat and unfortunately, once the damage is done your best bet is to aim to fade the pigmented sun-spots. Please avoid skin-brightening products made with bleach (yes, it’s a thing). Opt for a skincare regime designed to Brighten & Even-Out Skin Tone (the natural way).

Hormone changes can also cause pigmentation, most commonly during pregnancy (yes another wonderful side effect). This is often referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’ and can either stick around or disappear once your baby is born.

DIY Skin Fix

Brighten & even out skin tone with Platinum Anti-Pigmentation Concentrate. Add 2-3 drops in your P.M. regime for 2-4 weeks to help fade pigmentation & enhance natural glow.

Dehydration

• Fine, crisscrossed lines especially around the cheek area
• Redness
• Skin feels tight, especially around the mouth/eyes
• Fine lines around cheek, lip & eye area
• Can affect all skin types, not just dry skins

Skin dehydration is often confused with skin dryness. Skin dehydration itself can lead to other skin conditions including redness, sensitivity and premature skin ageing. Please note that a skin type can be oily and still be suffering from dehydration. Moisturisers don’t hydrate the deeper levels of the skin and oil production also doesn’t have anything to do with skin hydration.

Our skin naturally produces Hyaluronic Acid and it is responsible for keeping our skin hydrated by binding moisture to the skin. However, the older we get the less hyaluronic acid we produce and then, of course, there are also so many factors that influence our skins hydration levels, like; diet, exercise (sweating), air-conditioning, weather, alcohol and even stress. Thank the lord for Moisturising System

Moisturising System is made with concentrated hyaluronic acid which binds moisture to the skin. In fact, I often say if you were to put this wonder product on only half of your face and leave it for 10 minutes or so, you would notice that the side with the serum will appear like it has had an injection of fillers! Because essentially the Moisturising System had drawn moisture from the environment and locked it into the skin.

It’s super important to be using a moisturiser as well because remember the hyaluronic acids job is to bind moisture to the skin, so make sure there is something to bind with!

DIY Skin Fix

Hyaluronic Acid every single day. I recommend Moisturising System in the morning & Aqua Supply Booster in the evening. You can use either of these products as your base for Platinum Concentrates, remember though only use these of a night time.

Fine lines/Ageing Skin

• Lines & wrinkles are more visible
• Skin becomes thinner
• Age spots start to appear
• Loss of firmness & elasticity

It is a fact that all skin is going to age causing fine lines & wrinkles. However, by caring as best as we can for our skin and with the help of some products, we can slow this process down. I have seen skins well into their 70’s that appear better than some skins I have seen in their 50s. The leading cause of premature lines and wrinkles is skin dehydration. We just talked about skin dehydration so make sure you have a good Hyaluronic Acid Serum that you’re using every single day (seriously, your skin cannot get enough!).

Sun exposure also plays it’s part here so make sure you’re also using a good high SPF. Most anti-ageing day cremes contain good SPF. Get yourself onto a good Anti-Ageing Skincare Regime and some ingredients to be on the hunt for include; Peptides, Vitamin C, Retinol, Vitamin E, Resveratrol, & Antioxidants.

DIY Skin Fix

Daily skincare maintenance – morning & night. Also check out ‘Glow Guides’ for skin-solution recipes.

Skin Sensitivity & Redness

• Red, blotchy appearance
• Hot/warm to touch
• Thin & fine-textured
• Broken capillaries
• Easily irritated byproducts
• Commonly associated with dry skins

Skin Redness is most often linked to sensitivity and skin dehydration. Usually, dry skin types with finer layers of skin suffer from redness because essentially the redness you can see is the blood under the surface layers of the skin. Again, Hyaluronic Acid can do wonders for dehydration which can often improve skin redness by a lot. Caffeine found in skincare has been thought to reduce blood flow in the area and therefore reducing skin redness and rosacea as well.
In most cases when the sensitivity is treated the redness will fade if not disappear completely.

Skin sensitivity can be treated by nourishing and feeding the skin with what it’s lacking – hydration & moisture. A skin that has been dehydrated for long periods of time will almost most certainly be suffering from sensitivity also. Try introducing the skin to a Calming and Comforting Skincare Regime and be patient!

DIY Skin Fix

Weekly Calming Masque to soothe and nourish sensitive skin.

Skin Sagging

• Loss of firmness & elasticity
• Sagging skin
• Loss of muscle tone

As we age our skins collagen supplies begin to dwindle. Collagen is what keeps our skin nice and firm, we are born with our skins supply in collagen and then once we hit the age of 22 we start to lose it. If you’re looking for the non-invasive way to treat skin-sagging you need to get a good serum made with Peptides. Peptides ‘trick’ our skin into producing more collagen which will, in turn, increase the firmness of the skin. Peptides combined with Hyaluronic Acid is the combo you want to be on the lookout for! Platinum Tight, Firm & Fill and Advanced Lip & Eye Treatment have you completely covered.

DIY Skin Fix

Penetration! Invest in a facial massage tool like a Facial Roller or Gua Sha Stone to help penetrate your serums to where they need to go (down deep baby). Also add 2-3 drops of Platinum Firming Concentrate into your P.M. regime for visible results in 2-3 weeks.

Hormonal

• Increased blemishes/breakouts
• Acne
• Pigmentation
• Dehydration

Hormonal changes in the body and lead to skin imbalances/conditions including acne, pigmentation & dehydration. There are certain times in our life when we have increased hormone activity like puberty, pregnancy & menopause. An over-active or under active thyroid can also affect the skins appearance and condition. Make sure you consult with a medical professional if you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance. From a skincare point of view all you can do it help treat the skin condition. Increased blemishes and breakouts are a common side effect of hormonal changes so look at a skincare regime that’s going to Balance & Clear the skin. Ingredients to lookout for include Zinc, Tea Tree & AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid).

DIY Skin Fix

Excess oil production can be a real struggle, especially when there’s an imbalance of hormones. Keep excess oil under control by cleansing every day – twice per day and also using a good Clay Masque twice weekly. If oil control is actually out of control you can use your clay masque across the T-Zone even 3 – 4 times per week. Clay masques can be used on the neck, décolletage and back as well. Keep skin hydrated by adding in either Ultra Care+ Moisturising System or Aqua Supply Booster – this is very important.

I’ll tell you a little story, Apricot Oil is how I actually began my journey into the wonderful world of skincare.

I have always suffered from dermatitis and dry skin things and tried absolutely EVERYTHING…

It wasn’t until 13 years ago that this product made it’s way into my life and has been what I like to call a ‘Skincare Staple’ since.

Apricot Kernel Oil is almost medicinal for the skin and no matter your skin type, this jar of golden goodness will deliver goodness to your skin. This oil is the perfect massage medium for a DIY Facial Massage or an Apricot Oil Infusion Facial.

Here are a few little Skincare Guides to help you on your journey to a Glowing Skin. Click to download.

Time & commitment – I believe we all have that beautiful natural glow, sometimes our skin just needs a little TLC to find it. Beginning a skincare regime is like forming any habit, it is not going to happen overnight. Just start somewhere.

Start with a simple daily regime (morning & night) that is suited for your skin type and/or condition. Remember it is what you do now that’s going to impact the future of your skin.

Believe it or not, the more you look after your skin, the less you have to, does that make sense?

Congratulations on taking the first step to becoming your own ‘Skincare Guru’. With your online VIP account you have premium Australian, cruelty-free skincare right at your fingertips. Remember you will now shop with 20% off – even off sale, how good is that?

Danielle x