Do you know you have more than one skin type?
Normal Maintenance | Oily/Combination | Dry/Mature | In Repair/Irritated | Sensitive
​
It's because every year there are four or more seasons and your skin responds to them by becoming drier, oilier, thinner or thicker. There are now a myriad of products and compounds we're being exposed to on a daily basis that previous generations of humanity never had to deal with. We are humans, we intimately interact with our environments, and we age, so the skin type that was most dominant in the last decade is probably not the one that will dominate this decade of your life. We also have these hormone-driven bodies to live in, and hormones are affected by more than the stage of life we are going through. They're affected by everything in our environment, from the things we can't control like; weather, temperature, pollution, social stress, work conditions and more, to the things we can control like; food and drink intake, the entertainment we choose, the lifestyle we engage in, the products we choose to use, and more.
You are not a static Being but an evolutionary one, journeying through your timeline, the environment you're in and all experiences that have made and are making, your life. Embrace and accept that your skin will require regular maintenance and protection; just as much as the home you dwell in, to benefit from an organised approach so you obtain the best possible complexion no matter what life sends your way.
Normal Maintenance
Normal Maintenance - for skin that is smooth and has small pores, is neither over oil or dry and has balanced sebum levels.
People who have normal skin have likely got balanced hormone production, have a solid constitution from lifestyle and or genetic heritage or both, and are probably engaging with effective skincare products in a regular routine/regime.​
​
​Maintaining a normal type of complexion involves staying with a simple routine, addressing gentle cleansing and protective moisturising with SPF during the day. Encourage your normal skin type 'phases' with selective, supportive vitamins and high level nutritional intake, plus movement that makes you happy, brings you joy and promotes confidence.
MEM recommends:
​Gentle cleansing at the end of the day with a Powdered Facial Cleanser or Cleansing Oil that allows the skin's biome and acid mantle to remain intact. Using soap or astringent cleansers is not necessary and can strip your skin of protective oils. Morning routines are super simple for 'normal' phases. Water and a soft cloth, followed by moisturising and UV protection.
Mist for emotional refreshment rather than skin hydration, but, always mist.
​
Follow with a serum and or moisturiser of choice (Facial Oil or MPO or Lotion) that does not clog pores and UV protection from EnviroProtection Lotion.
We don’t have any products to show here right now.
Oily / Combination
Oily and Combination - for skin that has a layer of 'sheen' and visible/open/large pores, is oily to touch and may have irregular sebum production levels. Congestion can manifest as oil in the 't-zone' (across the forehead, between the eyes and down the nose), or framing the face (along the hairline, cheeks and chin). It can also be acne patches, breakouts and conversely, dry, scaly skin patches surrounded by excessive oil production.
People who have oily skin have hormone production that is fluctuating or irregular and may not be properly engaging with effective skincare products in a regular routine/regime.​ Oily skin can be hereditary, caused by cultural/lifestyle diets or by emotional and stressful episodes in life. Journaling to discover patterns in relation to menstruation, work and diet is very much recommended.
​
​Improving an oily and combination type of complexion involves a simple effective routine, moving towards gentle, balancing cleansing and moisturising with SPF during the day. Clarify your oily skin type 'phases' with selective herbs (green tea, peppermint, liquorice, turmeric) and high level nutritional intake, lymphatic massage, plus movement that helps to support the body's natural detoxing systems (QiGong, Tai Chi, Yoga).
MEM recommends:
​Gentle cleansing at the end of the day with a Powdered Facial Cleanser or Cleansing Oil that allows the skin's biome and acid mantle to remain intact. Using soap or astringent cleansers is not necessary and can strip your skin of protective oils. Morning routines may require a gentle cleanse for 'oily' phases. A powdered or mousse-to-mylk cleanser, with tepid water and a soft cloth, followed by moisturising and UV protection.
Mist for emotional refreshment rather than skin hydration, but, always mist.
​Spot treat with EnviroProtection Lotion, Rescue Balm or Facial Oil.
Follow with a serum and or moisturiser of choice (Facial Oil or MPO or Lotion) that does not clog pores and UV protection from EnviroProtection Lotion.
We don’t have any products to show here right now.
Dry / Mature
Dry and Mature - for skin that is papery, prematurely aged, lacklustre, dull and may have a lowered sebum production. There may be an avoidance of using skincare because the skin has reacted to products, so establishing an effective and simple routine is important.
People who have dry skin may be dehydrated or predisposed to this condition due to a life episode (pregnancy, menopause, illness) that is placing extra stress on the body. It's characterised by dry, flaky patches, tight skin that feels papery to the touch, small cracks and defined wrinkles and or deep creases. There may also be symptoms like dry mouth, cracked lips, watering eyes and hair loss.
​
​Improving dry and mature types of complexions involves adding nourishment with hydration via gentle cleansing, layering a mantle of protective moisturising and always using SPF during the day. Dry skin phases can be assisted by taking a higher concentration of omega fats internally and increasing water uptake in the body with supplements like MSM powder, Magnesium water (1mg pure magnesium salt in 100ml purified water), high level vitamin C and chlorophyll-rich foods. Of course, increase water intake using tea infused water.
MEM recommends:
​Gentle cleansing at the end of the day with a Powdered Facial Cleanser or Cleansing Oil that allows the skin's biome and acid mantle to remain intact. Using soap or astringent cleansers is not necessary and can strip your skin of protective oils. Use a reparative serum after cleansing. Use an MPO, Facial Oil or Balm every night. Include a moisture masque in your routine at least 3 times a week.
Mist for emotional refreshment and skin hydration, but, always mist.
​​
Morning routines involve extra moisture layers for dry skin phases. Water and a soft cloth, then serum + MPO left to absorb, followed by moisturiser and UV protection.
We don’t have any products to show here right now.
In Repair / Irritated
In Repair and Irritated - for skin that is or has been affected by any kind of dermatitis, or inflammatory skin condition. Skin conditions like this are not normally permanent and are usually caused by environmental factors, reactions to topical interactions (something has got onto your skin that it doesn't synthesise) or an endemic health condition and or sensitivity (allergen intolerances).
The good news is that because your skin has reacted to 'something', that 'something' can be identified and removed from your environment as much as possible. The process of elimination to find the 'something' is the tedious part; you may have to remove and replace something you love to use or eat/drink, but this must be undertaken so as to avoid flare ups and help your skin heal properly. Barrier function needs to be the goal but reducing inflammation, redness, itchiness and patches is also as important.
​
​Improving irritated and inflamed skin is about giving it space to detoxify. Our skin is an organ of our body and it takes over when our regular detoxifying processes are under stress. Your body is one large detox machine, all we need to do is avoid overwhelming it with things it can't process and it will normally work perfectly, albeit with a few wobbles and clanks when we're under stress. Take herbal teas into your daily routine as more than simply something to sip quietly. Use them to flavour your water so they can work at a gentle dilution all day, everyday. Use leftover tea to mist with or as the water for your cold compress cloth at the end of the day. This soothing ritual can relieve more than your skin condition.
​
And remember that you are building a new skin. It takes approximately a month to turnover your skin cells but only a week or so to turnover your digestive tract cells, so you can effect the greatest change by approaching your skincare holistically. More about that in this article. Work from the outside in and the inside out.
MEM recommends:
​Gentle cleansing at the end of the day that allows the skin's biome and acid mantle to remain intact and creates a strong foundation for a robust barrier. Using soap or astringent cleansers is not necessary and can strip your skin of protective oils. Use a reparative serum after cleansing. Use an MPO or reparative Balm every night. Include a moisture masque in your routine at least 3 times a week.
Mist for emotional refreshment and skin hydration, but, always mist.
​​
Morning routines are also undertaken calmly. Water and a soft cloth, then serum + MPO or reparative balm left to absorb, followed by UV protection.
Sensitive / Mother & Baby
Sensitive, Mother and Baby - these skin types need to be treated lightly, calmly and with as little fuss as possible. Sensitive skin can be described as skin that reacts almost instantly to any kind of adverse ingredient will result in a flare up that impedes comfort... Whereas Mother & Baby skincare is more about leaving out potential reactive ingredients completely so that the body has less to detox and can keep on developing without interference (baby) or creating without overloading (mother).
Sensitivities can manifest as sudden redness, burning, itching and dermatitis in rashes or pimples. Commonly, this will accompany other symptoms like nausea, light headedness, headaches, mood swings (depression and frustration) and lack of appetite. For pregnancy and lactation times of life, it's important to just back peddle and choose very gentle, very 'benign' skincare and personal care so you and your body can concentrate on what it needs to do without having to deal with symptoms related to ingredient sensitivity.
Baby care is very minimal. They are being carried around close to your skin so it's very important to exercise the same amount of caution for yourself as you would/are for them. Check how 'hard' your water is and find out if you need to use a water softener in their bathwater (a tiny amount of natural bicarb soda will be all that's required), but generally, a water cleanse with a soft cloth followed by a little MPO massage while their skin is damp, is all baby skin needs. Address stretching/cracking skin during growth spurts with Au Naturel Balm or Panacea Balm.
​
​Stick to simple cleansing, simple moisturising and a clean, healthy, energy-gifting diet to encourage calm, easy-going skin. When flare ups occur, have a fall-back plan to use for about a week so you can arrest the irritations and begin to heal quickly.
MEM recommends:
​Gentle cleansing at the end of the day with SOOTHE Powdered Facial Cleanser or a Cleansing Oil/MPO that allows the skin's biome and acid mantle to remain intact. Using soap or astringent cleansers is not necessary and can strip your skin of protective oils. Use a reparative serum after cleansing. Use an MPO, or reparative Balm every night. Include a moisture masque in your routine at least 3 times a week.
Mist for emotional refreshment and skin hydration, but, always mist.
​​
Morning routine is hassle free and calming for sensitive skin phases, pregnancy and post-partum (babycare). Water and a soft cloth, then serum + MPO left to absorb, followed by moisturiser and UV protection.
