Holiday Skin Care Essentials for the Whole Family

Too often, discussions about skin care are only aimed at a female demographic. Most skin care companies market to women, skin care articles are written for a female audience, even store shelves are dedicated almost solely to female skin care products while the men’s product are only give a tiny space if any space at all. Here atMambino, we believe good skin care should be a priority for the entire family, not just women. What better time to focus on skin care for the whole family than the upcoming holiday season? Beautiful, healthy skin is on everybody’s wish list this Christmas and we have some good ideas for the whole family.

Your skin is your body’s first line of defense. Although we often think of keeping ourselves healthy through exercise, vitamins, and healthy eating we often neglect our body’s largest organ – our skin. Your skin provides a physical barrier to defend against bacteria that might otherwise enter your body. If your skin is dehydrated, dry, or even cracked it is less able to defend you against harmful bacteria. The other huge benefit of taking care of your skin is that it is one of the most visible parts of your body and it’s hard to feel good about yourself when you don’t feel confident in your own skin. Here are some ideas that will leave every member of your family with healthy, glowing skin all year round.

Cleansers

The first step to healthy skin is to keep it clean. When you’re looking for a good cleanser, be sure to avoid harsh chemicals and stick with natural, plant-based ingredients instead. Depending on the person’s lifestyle consider convenient cleansing wipes that are self-contained and disposable, perfect for your bathroom sink or your gym bag. Another safe option is Micellar water. This is a liquid cleanser that lifts dirt, oil, and makeup away from the skin with no rinsing required. Micellar water gets its name from micelles which are tiny oil molecules that act like magnets for any residue left on your face. Simply soak a cotton ball with the cleanser and wipe across your face for a fresh, clean feeling.

Facial Scrub

While most people do at least remember to wash their face, almost everybody forgets the importance of exfoliation. Regular exfoliating is crucial to healthy skin. In order for your skin to look bright you need to remove the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Other benefits of exfoliating include: improved tone and texture, acne management, reducing the signs of aging, and minimizing the appearance of pores. To get your family members started, gift them some facial scrubs with ingredients such as coconut oil and cocoa butter to leave their skin feeling soft and smooth.   

Facial Masks

Masks are another great way to pamper your skin. Using a mask just a few times a week greatly improves your skin’s luminosity, reduces the appearance of dull skin and draws out any buildup of impurities, dirt and pollution. The best type of mask to do this is a charcoal mask. Simply apply the mask to clean, dry skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and you’ll love the results of the beautiful skin underneath.  

Moisturizer

After all that cleansing, exfoliating, and masking you can’t forget to moisturize. Hydrated skin is healthy skin and just like your body needs to stay hydrated so does your skin in order to achieve optimal results. Don’t forget to make sure your sunscreen contains a broad-spectrum sunscreen to keep your skin protected from sun damage. Keep in mind, sun damage doesn’t only occur in the summer. Year round sun protection will help prevent aging due to sun damage as well as protect against skin cancer.

Lip Balm

Lip care is an often overlooked aspect of a good skin care routine. The skin on your lips is some of the most sensitive on your body and it’s important to keep it protected. Keep a close eye on the ingredients in your lip balm. Many contain salicylic acid to help slough off dry skin. While this ingredient is very effective in treating acne it’s not good for your lips. Camphor, menthol and phenol are other common additives in lip balms because they produce cooling and tingling sensations. However, they do this by peeling layers of skin off your lips which actually leave them more susceptible to permanent damage. Look for products that contain lanolin, beeswax and shea or cocoa butter instead. These are all natural ingredients that work to protect, soften and moisturize your lips without irritating them.  

We promise that everyone on your list will appreciate quality skin care products. And you can feel good about giving them the gift of healthy skin.