Depending on the season, your clients’ skin needs to be cared for differently. Whether it’s extra hydration and moisture in the Winter or a focus on exfoliation and SPF in the Summer, your clients must be informed on how best to care for their skin all year round to avoid worsening existing skin complaints or using products that could do more harm than good.
Many clients can be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of skincare products available to buy and the different routines and steps they can adopt. That’s where you come in, and to help you make the very best recommendations, we’ve teamed up with the cruelty-free skincare brand Monuskin to share their top tips for helping your clients build a summer skincare routine.
How to create a summer skincare routine for your clients with Monuskin
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Can you give a brief introduction to Monuskin?
Monuskin is a British skincare company who are experts at restoring and rejuvenating your skin – from head to toe. Our collection of nourishing, healing and caring natural skincare has been loved by skincare professionals and skincare lovers for over 40 years. The entire collection is formulated at our head office in Cheltenham, using only natural, active, cruelty-free ingredients working with the best locally sourced plants, herbs, minerals and essential oils – designed to keep skin glowing and rejuvenated.
Learn more: An introduction to Monuskin’s gentle and cruelty-free skincare
What’s the difference between Summer Skin and Winter Skin?
In the Winter our skin is exposed to the drying heat of central heating usually followed by a sharp cold blast of the outdoors – this can really make your skin super parched, so it’s about constantly hydrating – whilst you cleanse and yes whilst you tone, and yes, your serum and yes… your moisturiser!
In the Summer months, with the heat, you want to avoid your skincare feeling heavy or sticky. You’ll likely to be exposed to air conditioning – which will be drying and you would hope, fingers crossed, you’ll be flying away on holiday- and whilst we are filled with excitement about our imminent break – nothing dries your skin quite as efficiently as the atmosphere on a plane! So again, it’s about hydration and of course SPF.
Is summertime better or worse for the skin?
I think we all notice a glow to our skin in the summer – it most likely becomes clearer and easier to manage – certainly, the humidity in the air can soften our skin – that moisture we lacked in the winter is back!
The UVB rays we get in the summer kick-start the metabolic reaction that produces Vitamin D- which boosts our calcium levels – though that’s no excuse to abandon the sunscreen! The World Health Organization state that all you need is between 5 and 15 minutes of sun exposure two to three times a week to keep your Vitamin D levels up!
Ultraviolet light has a wonderfully positive effect on the skin, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it will suppress the immune system which will help clear our skin. The best thing about summer is it will generate a positive mood! You are more likely to be more relaxed, happier and in a better state of mind on a warm sunny day – negative feelings will take a toll on your skin – a more positive overall mood absolutely benefits your skin and if sunshine and warmth are generating that overall happiness – we are all for it!
What are your summer skincare tips to give to clients and can you suggest the ideal Monuskin routine for the summer months?
A great skincare routine is applicable to all seasons and all climates, but there are certainly some changes you can consider when transitioning from winter to summer. The most important being SPF – and applying it every 3 to 4 hours – what you put on your face that morning will no longer be as efficient by the time you are eating your lunch! It’s our first tip, but the last part of your skincare routine! Our Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 15 works beautifully as the final part of your routine. If you want a more luminous appearance our Illuminating Primer gives SPF 15 and leaves a light subtle shimmer on your skin.
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You may wish to lighten your cleansing routine. The heat and humidity of summer means you can swap a heavy cleanser in favour of a lighter cleanser or a gentle foaming cleanser. Our Clarifying Cleanser works beautifully for more oily skin – formulated with aloe vera to soothe and camphor to help with congested skin.
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Our Delicate Facial Wash which contains Rosewood Essential Oil has both a toning and softening effect on the skin, and the added benefit of refreshing your face with cool water when your rinse.
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Vitamin C is super to include in your routine all year round – but even more important in the summer, as it helps prevent hyperpigmentation, will improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps collagen production. Our Brightening Boost is packed with Vitamin C and can be layered between cleansing and moisturising.
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Summertime is the season to exfoliate- you are looking to open blocked pores and remove those oils that can result in acne. Our Exfoliating Enzyme is made with natural fruit acids and Papaya Fruit Enzymes which naturally (and gently) digest dead skin cells which then in turn encourage cell renewal.
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Make sure your make-up is non-comedogenic – so products without pore-clogging ingredients – so we suggest keeping your foundation super light! We have three shades of tinted moisturiser which contain SPF 15, called Perfecting Tint. Formulated with Blackcurrant – high in essential fatty acids, Cassia Alata Leaf extract which supports skin cells’ natural repair system and Vitamin E which calms irritation. And lastly, stay in the shade – at the very least at midday when the sun is at its most powerful and please wear a hat!
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Are there any ingredients or products you would advise against mixing?
You should never mix any Retinol based skincare with Vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, or AHA/BHA Acids. As AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry your skin out and cause further irritation to your skin if your routine already includes retinol. Benzoyl peroxide and retinol will cancel each other out rendering them less effective. Vitamin C protects the skin from environmental aggressors, whilst retinol repairs and rebuilds the skin- so we suggest using them at opposite ends of the day!
What ingredients or products work well together?
Hyaluronic Acid and AHA work well together – Use Hyaluronic Acid post-AHA as it clears the pores and makes way for hydration! Our AHA Night & Day Treatment evens skin tone and brightens the complexion. Use the AHA at night and Recovery Balm and Hydrating Moisturiser SPF the following day. SPF and Vitamin C – the antioxidant benefits of Vitamin C pair well with the protective powers of sunscreen. Research has shown that combining Vitamin C with an SPF will help prevent long-term pigmentation from sun damage – i.e. Age spots, so try Brightening Boost. Alongside Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 15.
Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid – As Hyaluronic acid is so gentle – it can be layered with more potent ingredients including Retinol without causing a reaction. They are a great paring most especially if you are new to retinol. Applying retinol AFTER hyaluronic acid will help to minimise any irritation without interfering with how well it works. Our Hyaluronic Acid Ampoules promote optimum levels of hydration in the skin – one ampoule will work for both a night and morning treatment.
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Are there any ingredients you tell clients to stay away from during the summer?
Retinol is the one we would recommend you use ONLY with an SPF as it will make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You also need to be careful of acids on the skin as this can create the pigmentation in the summer months if the skin is not protected properly.
Does it matter how clients layer their products?
Yes, it does! Curating an effective skincare routine is about choosing the right products at the right time and applying them in the right order! We suggest you layer your products from the lightest to the heaviest. Ultimately you want the thickets formula on last and that will be your SPF. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest layering and applying in this order.
Cleanser, you may wish to cleanse twice in which case we suggest using a Cleansing Cream first followed by the more hydrating Cleansing Balm, toner, serum, eye cream, oil, moisturiser, then SPF or a moisturiser with an SPF. SPF is always, always last! The only thing you should layer over your SPF is powder, concealer or foundation.
The following MONU Layering routine would work for normal, dry and more sensitive skin.
Step One: Gentle Cleanser – Using Wheat Germ and Coconut to nourish and hydrate clears and cleanses the skin without drying or leaving the skin feeling tight.
Step Two: Cleansing Balm– Using Rose and Geranium Essential Oils this is a luxurious balm that dissolves all traces of dirt and makeup whilst leaving the skin super hydrated.
Step Three: Soft Touch Toner – With Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Combined with Aloe Vera and Polysaccharides this leaves the skin with a naturally restored radiance and a fresh glow.
Step Four: Hydra Lift Serum – this serum is about boosting your overall skin health – delivering moisture into the skin in a controlled but effective way – whilst protecting it.
Step Five: Eye Cool Gel – this eye gel both restores hydration and refreshes tired eyes. Formulated with Arnica, Vitamin C, Sodium Hyaluronate and Ginseng, it reduces puffiness and dark circles whilst uplifting, plumping and correcting skin tone.
Step Six: Soothing Hawaii Oil – formulated with Lavender, Sandalwood and Hazelnut Oil – won’t leave a thick oily residue but will leave skin calm and hydrated.
Step Seven: Moisture Rich Collagen Cream – the large marine collagen molecules form a tightening film on the surface of the skin which smooths fine lines whilst firming and toning. The added Rose Oil is perfect for hydrating more sensitive skin whilst the shea butter leaves a protective layer on the skin.
Step Eight: Perfecting Tint – This hydrates and nourishes the skin, locking in moisture whilst balancing skin tone. The natural mineral pigment provides a subtle colour whilst the SPF 15 provides protection from the sun.
Is there anything, non product related, you would suggest that will help the client’s skin during the summer?
Go lighter on your makeup, keep your face clean and please wear a hat!
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