Skin Savers

Summer has ended, and although you may have come to terms with it, it’s possible that your skin is still in shock over this sudden change in climate. Over hydrated from the excess oils it naturally produced during the warmer summer months, the drop in temperature is liable to be causing your skin to become drier and as such, much more prone to sudden break outs. So does bidding adieu to summer also mean having to bid adieu to beautifully healthy looking skin? Of course not! Keep in mind that the fall season not only serves as a transitional phase for the climate, but for your skin as well. If properly cared for during the fall, your skin will be much better equipped to battle the harsh winds of the upcoming winter months.

We, here at istyle, elicited the aid of two of the most sought after beauty experts in town to help advise you, our readers, of the most desirable skincare products out there this fall. Marc Brunet (owner) and Cindy Leyland (manager) of the famed local Vancouver boutique, BeautyMark, have joined istyle in creating a list of the season’s most favorable cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. With a knowledgeably creative staff, as pampering and as addictive as all those deliciously hard to find beauty products that they carry, it’s no wonder that BeautyMark is the mecca for beauty junkies in and around town. So pull back your hair, grab your face cloths, and get ready to cleanse, tone, and moisturize your way into fall as Marc and Cindy present you with the season’s hottest tips and “skin saving” products.

Cleansers:
Cleansers are readily available in every imaginable form these days, including soap, liquid, and foam based. It simply comes down to a matter of personal preference and what is best suited for your skin. With fall being a great time to step up exfoliation, try using an exfoliant in place of a cleanser in the mornings and improve the overall feel and condition of your skin.

Tip: If you have dry skin you may want to consider using a gentle apricot cleanser in the mornings, when you don’t have too much residue on your face, versus using a stronger cleanser in the evenings, when your skin has generally been in more contact with the outside elements and has collected greater amounts of residue throughout the day due to make up and pollution.

Exfoliants:
1) Ole Henriksen New Beginning-Scrub, $34, at Beauty Mark
Ideal for people with dry/sensitive skin who require a gentle exfoliant. As an added bonus for all those citrus lovers, this scrub has an intense grapefruit scent.

2) Fresh Sugar Face Polish, $75, at Beauty Mark
Consisting of a base of fresh crushed strawberries and brown sugar, this natural particle is referred to as a facial in a jar because it has plant wax in it, which tends to fill in and smooth away any fine lines or wrinkles. Apply and rub in for five minutes, then leave it on as a mask for an additional 10 minutes, during which time the plant wax will begin to kick in and really smooth out the complexion, thus, allowing the make up to be beautifully applied overtop.

3) Komenuka Bijin Cleansing Powder (Gentle Scrub), $53, at Beauty Mark. This two in one face cleanser and exfoliant from Japan is an uber gentle option that is ideal for anyone who’s really dry, rosasia prone, but still wants something really gentle on their skin. We all remember those Japanese grains from the body shop, and though this is similar, it’s a much more fine milled powder. When you add a little bit of water, it’s still going to have some grit, but as you continue to add more water you will find it foam up and become a milky cleanser. This product is great for travelers because not only is it a two in one but it’s also individually packaged. Simply grab a couple of packets, throw them into your bag, and you’re all set to go.

Toners:
After cleansing/exfoliating, the next step is toning, especially if your cleanser doesn’t already provide it. The overall purpose of a toner is to restore the ph level of your skin and ensure that all traces of the cleanser have been removed, leaving your skin clean of all residue. Many people who experience a breakout around their forehead often credit it to their hair gel or hairspray, but that’s not necessarily so. Keep in mind that when you splash your face with water, everything gets moved to the outer edges of your face, causing the pores in those areas to clog up. A toner allows you to remove the excess soap and all other buildup from around the hairline, thus aiding in the prevention of breakouts.

1) SkinCeuticals Revitalizing Toner, $30, at Beauty Mark
It comes in a pump, making it really easy to use. There’s no need to soak a cotton pad, simply spritz it directly onto your face and then wipe.

2) Ole Henriksen Pick Me Up-Face Mist, $25, at Beauty Mark
This particular face tonic also comes in a mist, and given that it will not ruin your make-up, purely spritz your face at any time and freshen up throughout the day. Great to have on hand during the fall, it’s also a “must have” item when traveling. Remember, if flying, the change of climate will tend to dehydrate the skin. Some people make the disastrous error of splashing their faces with water when their skin begins to feel dehydrated, but bear in mind, water strips oil; therefore when you splash water onto your face, you’re actually doing more harm than good. Unlike water however, this spritzer has botanical and mineral oils that are specially formed to hold onto your skins moisture, allowing you to instantly re-hydrate your skin with just a little spritz.
Tip: Make-up artists love using this spritzer as a final step to achieving that natural look. To settle down freshly applied make-up, just spritz, and allow the gentle mist to take away that excess powdery look from your skin.

Moisturizers:
The final step in basic skin care for fall is moisturizing. And this holds true not just for some, but for everyone. Many people share the misconception that having oily skin means that you need not moisturize. Believe it or not, but your skin can still be dehydrated even if it’s oily. People with oily skin have become overly trained to look for products that read oil free, but we need to remember that all skin needs moisture. If you have oily skin, try using an oil free moisturizer during the day but something more moisture rich at night. The reason for this being that during the day you’re in the elements, in the pollution, you’re perspiring, and therefore something richer may be more likely to clog your pores; whereas at night time, your skin is clean and fresh, you’re sleeping, not picking up any dirt or any other elements. Moreover, by applying a richer moisturizer at night, you are allowing it to stay on your skin for an extended period of time (of approx. 8 hours).

1) Ole Henriksen Skin Insulator-Comforting Crème, $56, at Beauty Mark. Many people switch from Ole Henriksen Herbal Day in the summer to this for the fall/winter because they need a little bit of a thicker, richer cream. Since it has SPF 15 in it, you can rest assured that it moisturizes and protects.

2) Fresh Rice Face Cream, $103, at Beauty Mark
This extra rich rice based crème is a great choice for those with dry skin. Proven very hydrating, the rice bran oil binds moisture to the skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple.

3) Philosophy hope in a jar, $49, at Beauty Mark
Great for all skin types, but ideal for oily skin, this low density moisturizer is the perfect product if you want moisture without the oil.

4) Ole Henriksen lavender body oil
-originally came in a little bottle known and was called the complexion oil, but it came to be so popular and everybody was using it all over their body so it got repackaged into a larger bottle
-apply face and body
-use body oil before you shower as a good way to insulate your skin, so when u wash your skin it will wash that oil leaving your oils in your skin
-If you have very dry skin you can even apply it on your skin after showering, as it would be lovely as a beautiful dry oil.
Tip: If you have a dry or red patch, insulating it with a little bit of body oil such as this oil before you wash will prevent it from being stripped of even more moisture. If u have dry itchy skin, you can layer this underneath your moisturizer for an added moisture boost.
-put it on before you cleanse because as mentioned earlier, every time you rinse with water, you rinse away your own natural protective oils. Instead you’re going to rinse this oil away, keeping your own natural protective oils.

ADDITIONAL TIP:
-try using a topical vitamin c oil in conjunction with your sunscreen this winter. This will protect your skin from pre-radical damage that happens year around and will restore the collagen layer, reducing any hyper hypo-pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, broken capillaries and discoloration.

words: Bindia Dhaliwal
photo: Vikram Bawa
product photo: JC Images