Page 61 - Retail Pharmacy Assistants - November 2020

I t’s hard not to get swept away in the excitement of influencer skin care routines on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. Skin care regime videos are the new makeup tutorials, which means consumers are exposed to a whole new world of skin care related products. Skin care is not only one of the latest trends in beauty, but with the beginning of the silly season upon us, it’s also a must. From October to January, you can guarantee that the number of days of putting on a full face of makeup is increasing, so knowing just how to take off the makeup and ensuring your skin is taken care of are key. Take it off One of the most important pieces of advice I’ve been given on skin care, whether from a skin specialist, a makeup artist or even my mum, is: Take your makeup off before going to bed! It has stuck with me always. There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning still feeling the dried-up foundation on your face. Leaving makeup on overnight can dry out the skin and cause other skin issues to arise. Associate Professor Rosemary Nixon, a dermatologist at Skin Health Institute Melbourne, warns that if makeup is left on too long, “it may contribute to the tendency to develop mild acne”. This is backed by Assistant Clinical Professor at New York’s Mt Sinai Hospital and Dermatologist with Washington Square Dermatology in that city, Dr Samer Jaber, who tells US-based online journal The Healthy just how harmful leaving makeup on can be.1 “Sleeping with makeup is really bad, as your pores will get clogged,” he said. “It can significantly increase breakouts, acne, skin dryness and irritation.” Ms Nixon adds that the thickness of the makeup will often determine the issues that could occur. “If someone applied a light foundation some 16 hours before they went to work, it’s likely there’s not that much left – it has rubbed off during the day,” she said. “I think of more importance is washing or cleansing the face if you’ve been exposed to pollution, such as walking around the city with exposure to car fumes, or in a workplace environment with exposure to fumes or chemicals.” BEAUTY BUZZ 59 “Use a mild skin cleanser or micellar water at the beginning and end of the day.” Keep it simple Skin care routines don’t need to be complicated. An ingredient that Ms Nixon strongly supports the use of is water. Yes, water! “Water can be very useful,” she said. “Again, what needs to be removed will dictate how much cleansing is required. Alternatively, use a mild skin cleanser or micellar water at the beginning and end of the day.” Interestingly, Ms Nixon warned: “Avoid toners, which can dry out the skin.” A huge point that she makes throughout our discussion is to keep it simple. This can be a key point during a conversation between a pharmacy worker and a customer who is seeking to add or upgrade their skin care routine. Caution should be advised about, for example, over-exfoliating and using toners that are going to dry out the skin. As mentioned on US website healthline, a scrub or cleanser with beads might feel soft on day one, but scrubbing too hard or too often can damage the outer layer of the skin. Products to be avoided, the site advises, include bar soaps, perfumed or dyed products, harsh foaming cleansers and daily exfoliating cleansers.2 Ms Nixon suggests that pharmacy workers should advise customers that when it comes to cleansing and cleaning the skin, “the more products you apply, the more risk of skin problems eventuating”. “This is getting to a be a huge issue, with many skin influencers spruiking use of multiple skin products, which cumulatively irritate the skin,” she said. “It’s not uncommon to see young women apply eight to 10 products a day, and still no sunscreen. “The best thing pharmacy workers can do is sell sunscreens, which can be used instead of moisturisers for the face.” References: 1. The Healthy, 2020. ‘How bad is it to sleep in your makeup?’ Accessed 7/10/20. thehealthy.com/beauty/ face-body-care/sleep-in-makeup/ 2. Healthline, 2019. ‘15 dos and don’ts for washing your face the right way’. Accessed 7/10/20. healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/face- washing-how-to RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • NOV 2020