Dawn Siler

After the hottest London summer in, well… ever, the weather’s taking a turn for the worse. Word on the street is, we’re gonna pay for all that summer sunshine with one of the coldest winters in decades.

I’m not gonna wait until we get there to protect my skin from dryness, redness and all the other winter evils. I’m all about prevention, which is why I’ve added a facial oil to my skincare routine now.

I find facial oils do a better job at strengthening my skin’s protective barrier in the cold winter months, but I only slather them on in the evening due to the grease factor.

At the moment, I’m using Naya Everyday Face Oil. Was it a good choice? Read on to find out:

Key Ingredients In Naya Everyday Face Oil

Natural Oil To Moisturize Skin

Naya Everyday Face Oil uses a mixture of natural oils to moisturise skin. Here are the highlights:

• Meadowfoam oil: A stable (goes bad very slowly) source of fatty acids that deeply moisturises skin.
• Grape seed oil: A moisturising oil with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to slow down premature aging.
• Cacay seed oil: A moisturizing oil rich in antioxidants to fight both dryness and wrinkles.
• Sweet almond oil: A lightweight, moisturizing oils, that sinks in quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind.

Oils work because they’re rich in fatty acids, the building blocks of fats in your body. They repair your skin’s protective barrier, so that moisture stays into the skin. They also help your skin withstand the attacks from germs, cold weather and all its other enemies.

Related: How To Repair A Broken Skin Barrier (And Why It Matters)

Bisabolol To Soothe Skin

Ever wondered what makes chamomile so soothing? Bisabolol. It’s an anti-irritant that soothes skin. It reduces redness, calms down irritations…

Why not use chamomile? If you’re allergic to it (or any plant in the daisy family), you know some of its components can irritate skin.

Isolate bisabolol and you get only the good, anti-inflammatory bit.

Related: 9 Ingredients To Soothe Sensitive & Irritated Skin

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

Naya Everyday Face Oil is an oil (duh!), so it’s a little sticky and greasy when you apply it. But it also sinks in quickly and, once it’s fully absorbed, there’s no residue left.

I find the oil very moisturizing. A few minutes after application, my skin already feels softer. When I wake up the next morning, it’s plumper, which in turn makes my fine lines look smaller. Oh, my complexion has more of a glow, too.

Not only my skin shows no signs of dryness or flakiness, it feels more hydrated and better able to put up with the chillier temperatures.

I use it only at night, but it could make a lovely base for makeup, as well, if you want to apply it twice a day for a double dose of moisture.

The only thing I could do without is the scent. Naya Everyday Facial Oil contains some fragrant oils, like patchouli and lemon, that can irritate sensitive skin. Mine isn’t, so I didn’t experience any side effects.

Have you tried Naya Everyday Face Oil? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil***^, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense (Cacay) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil+, Tocopherol+, Bisabolol***, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oi+, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil+, Juniperus Communis (Juniper) Oil+, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil+, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil+, Linalool**, Geraniol**, Benzyl Benzoate**, Benzyl Salicylate**, Citral**, Citronellol**, Limonene** . * community-sourced **naturally occurring in essential oil ***COSMOS and/or Ecocert certified

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

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When I say Pixi, I immediately think of Glow Tonic, the toner that put the brand on the skincare map.

But that’s not the only toner Pixi makes. They have a few in their stash – and most of them will do your skin more harm than good. *sighs*

I don’t want you to fall for a dud. So, I put together this quick guide to Pixi Tonics to help you choose the right one for your needs and ignore all the rest:

WARNING: All Pixi tonics are housed in see-through bottles without boxes. This is terrible for antioxidants: they degrade and lose their effectiveness when exposed to light. As there is no way of knowing how long they’ve been on the shop shelves, I recommend you buy yours online and store them in a dark place to slow down the degradation process. Or just buy something else that’s properly packaged. Just saying…

Pixi Rose Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: A soothing toner with rose flower extract to tone down redness.

Key ingredients: This toner is loaded with soothing ingredients, like green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile that calm down inflammation and redness. Rose extract is here, too, but it doesn’t do much for your skin.

Texture: Super light and refreshing.

Who should use it: Sensitive skin prone to redness.

Who should NOT use it: Most people won’t need a toner in their skincare routine.

Available at: Asos, Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients To Calm Down Irritated Skin

Pixi Vitamin C Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: An anti-aging Vitamin C toner.

Key ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, the pure form of Vitamin C. It fights free radicals, boosts collagen production and brightens skin. The catch? It’s very unstable and degrades quickly when exposed to light (the see-through packaging will kill it fast). To add insult to injury, the toner is loaded with citrus extracts that irritate sensitive skin.

Texture: Clear and watery liquid.

Who should use it: No one.

Who should NOT use it: This is one toner I do NOT recommend to anyone. Its formula is just an irritating mess!

Available at: Cult Beauty

Related: The Complete Guide To Vitamin C: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It

Pixi Milky Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: A soothing cocktail for sensitive skin.

Key ingredients: Chamomile, green tea and oats all have anti-inflammatory properties that calm down redness and irritation. Unfortunately, Pixi also added irritating natural extracts, like lemon and lavender, that trigger the very skin problems the toner is supposed to address!

Texture: Liquid.

Who should use it: No one.

Who should NOT use it: Again, this is a toner I do NOT recommend.

Available at: Cult Beauty

Related: 7 Irritating Natural Ingredients Lurking In Your Skincare Products

Pixi Retinol Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: An antiaging toner with retinol.

Key ingredients: Retinol, a form of Vitamin A that boosts collagen, fight free radicals and fades away dark spots. Plus, Vitamin C and other antioxidants to help fight premature aging. Unfortunately, antioxidants degrade quickly when exposed to light (see-through bottles are a no-no!). Oh, and there are a couple of extracts (including lavender) that can irritate sensitive skin.

Texture: Watery and cooling.

Who should use it: Retinol newbies on a budget – just store it somewhere dark to help the antioxidants last longer.

Who should NOT use it: There are better retinol products out there – even at the drugstore.

Available at: Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Related: The Complete Guide To Retinol: What It Is, What It Does & How To Do It

Pixi Glow Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: An exfoliating toner with glycolic acid.

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, an exfoliant that dissolves the glue that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the brighter and smoother skin underneath. It hydrates skin, too.

Texture: Watery liquid.

Who should use it: Dry skin looking for an effective exfoliant on a budget.

Who should NOT use it: Oily skin (it can’t unclog pores).

Available at: Asos, Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Related: Pixi Glow Tonic VS The Ordinary Glycolic 7% Toning Solution: Which One Is Better?

What’s your fave Pixi Tonic? Share your pick in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Is your mineral sunscreen drying out your skin?

If you’ve just switched to a mineral sunscreen and your skin’s now drier than the Sahara, fret not. You’re not going crazy. Mineral sunscreens can dry out skin.

Here’s why it happens (and how to prevent it):

What Are Mineral Sunscreens?

First things first: what are mineral sunscreens?

Mineral sunscreens take their name from the UV filters they use. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are two white minerals that protect skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

Rumour has it, they do so by creating a shield on the skin that scatters UV rays away from it. That’s only partly true. These filters do scatter some UV rays away.

But they deal with the vast majority of ultraviolet radiation that hits your skin the same way chemical filters (like Avobenzone) do: by absorbing it and transforming it into a less damaging form of energy (heat).

Even though they work pretty much the same way, mineral filters are way gentler and rarely cause irritations. Heck, even babies can use them!

Related: 5 Myths About Mineral Sunscreens You Need To Stop Believing Right Now

Can Mineral Sunscreens Dry Skin?

Yes, mineral sunscreens can dry out your skin. Blame it on zinc oxide.

This white mineral is the best UV filter around (in my humble opinion). It protects, on its own, from the entire UV range – without giving you a rash.

But zinc oxide is also a mild astringent. An astringent is an ingredient that constricts bodily tissues or makes skin less oily.

In other words, astringents help remove excess oil from the skin. That’s cool, if you have oily skin that could do with less oil.

Dry skin? Your sebaceous glands produce very little sebum already. The last thing you want is for zinc oxide to soak it all away.

Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

How Can You Tell If Your Mineral Sunscreen Is Drying Out Your Skin?

FYI, just because you’re using a sunscreen with zinc oxide, it doesn’t mean it will dry out your skin. It depends on several factors:

1. Skin type: If your skin is pumping out way more oil than it needs, you likely have nothing to worry about. Zinc oxide is more drying for dry than oily skin.
2. Concentration: The higher the amount of zinc oxide in the sunscreen, the higher the chance it’ll dry out your skin. Luckily, higher concentrations DON’T equal higher protection (the size of zinc oxide particles and how they’re formulated do – but you can’t tell that stuff from a label).
3. Moisturising ingredients: The more moisturising ingredients in the formula, the lower the chance of dryness.

Related: How To Figure Out Your Skin Type (Plus, Free Test)

SHOP MOISTURIZERS FOR DRY SKIN

How Do You Prevent Sunscreen From Drying Out Your Skin?

You have two options here:

• Layer mineral sunscreen over moisturiser: I’m the first to say that, if your sunscreen is moisturizing enough, you don’t need a separate moisturizer (especially if you have oily skin). But if you have dry skin, always apply your fave facial moisturiser underneath sunscreen to keep your skin soft and supple all day. You can find my fave moisturizers for dry skin here.
• Switch to a chemical sunscreen: Contrary to popular opinion, chemical sunscreens aren’t the devil. It’s true chemical filters are more likely to irritate sensitive skin. But if they don’t irritate YOUR skin, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use them. If they could save your dry skin from getting more parched than the Sahara, make the switch.

Related: What’s The Difference Between Mineral And Chemical Sunscreens?

SHOP CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS

The Bottom Line

It’s not just in your head. Mineral sunscreens can dry out your skin, especially if it’s already dry. If this is happening to you, make sure you always use moisturizer with your sunscreen. Or just opt for a chemical sunscreen instead.

Has a mineral sunscreen ever dried out your skin? Share your experience in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Skincare shopping is hard enough without being bombarded with all these crazy myths about skincare products.

You know what I’m talking about. The insane marketing mumbo jumbo. Labels that make no sense. Conflicting reviews online. What the heck can you believe?

Like, are natural products really better than synthetic ones? And should you really spend more if you want something that REALLY works? And are you harming your skin if you don’t use hypoallergenic products?

Let’s set the record straight on these, and other common myths about skincare products, shall we?

1. Hypoallergenic products are safer and better for sensitive skin

Myth goes that hypoallergenic products are gentler and less likely to cause irritations. Truth is, hypoallergenic means nothing. The term is not regulated in any way, meaning brands can put absolutely anything, including common allergens, in a product, and still label it hypoallergenic. Isn’t that a joke? Don’t believe the label. Always check the ingredient list to find out if there’s something in a product that make you breakout, give you a rash or something.

Related: What Does Hypoallergenic Really Mean?

2. “Dermatologically tested” products are safer and more reliable

This is another marketing tool. In a nutshell, “dermatologically tested” simply means that the product has been tested on skin. Nothing more. We don’t know on whose skin. We don’t know how many people took part in the study. We don’t know how these tests were performed. Heck, we don’t even know what the results were! Maybe some of those folks had a bad reaction to the products. If so, You can be sure no one will tell you!

3. You should use skincare products targeted to your age group

It’s not about what age you are. It’s about what your skin needs. If you’re a teen, should you use an anti-acne moisturizer for teens even though you don’t have acne? Of course not! And lots of moisturizers for 50+ women are very rich because skin tends to become drier after menopause. But, what if yours turns oilier instead? They’d just make things worse. Listen to your skin, not to marketing nonsense.

4. Natural ingredients are better and safer than synthetic ones

Contrary to popular opinion, just because something is natural, doesn’t mean it’s safe. I bet even those folks obsessed with organic skincare wouldn’t slather poison ivy all over their faces!

And, just because something is made in lab, it doesn’t mean it’s bad. On the contrary, it’s usually safer. Plants are made up of tens of thousands of compounds, and are often contaminated by pollen, resins, and other natural allergens. Synthetic ingredients are created in a sterile environment using only 3 or 4 compounds. Which ones do you think are more likely to cause a bad reaction?

Even so, it’s not about natural vs synthetic. Simply put, there are natural ingredients that work and natural ingredients that don’t. Just like there are synthetic ingredients that work and synthetic ingredients that don’t work.

It’s all about finding products with ingredients that work for you and help treat whatever skincare issue you have. Whether they’re naturally derived or made in a lab is irrelevant.

5. Expensive skincare products work better than inexpensive ones

You’ll be relieved to know this is utter nonsense too. Yes, there are some expensive products that work amazingly well and are worth the splurge (you can check out my fave here, if you’re curious). But most are just basic formulas that don’t do much – and are often laden with irritants to boot! The same is true for drugstore products. Lots of crappy stuff, but also a few gems. It’s all about the formula, not the brand or price.

PRO TIP: high-end and drugstore brands are often owned by the same company, it’s not unusual to find the same formula, with just some minor tweaks (like a different scent), at different price points.

Related: 5 Outrageously Skincare Products That Are Really Worth The Splurge

Learn to read the labels, and you’ll never waste your money again.

P.S. These aren’t the only myths about skincare products. For a list of misleading marketing terms that mean nothing, click on the image below and download the “Misleading Skincare Claims Cheatsheet”:

What other myths about skincare products do you think need to be busted?

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.