Blog
April Favourites
Apr 27, 2020In the last few weeks, we have received some amazing product feedback so, we decided to round up some of the most recent reviews and share what everyone has been loving with you!
“I am so impressed with it that I can’t imagine using anything else at bedtime now. Using this combination of products has my skin feeling soft, supple and brighter, protected against the harsh winter weather” - Even Angels Fall, Lifestyle & Beauty Blogger
“I've used the Age Defend Regenerating Night Treatment most nights for nearly three weeks and I would confidently recommend it to virtually anyone who has skin. It feels a little bit indulgent to use, absorbs nicely and, so far, has made my face feel more hydrated and comfortable than it has in a long time.” Lippy In London, Beauty Blogger
"When it comes to the colder months, my skin needs a bit more oomph in my moisturiser and this fits the bill perfectly. It has kiwi seed oil (omega 3 fatty acids for moisture and to help the skin barrier), passion fruit oil (anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory), Prodizia (for signs of fatigue), and CoQ10 (an antioxidant to help the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles)." Talonted Lex, Beauty Blogger
"ARK Skincare is a brand I've reviewed and raved about on my blog for a while now and I cannot recommend their Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser enough (it's my favourite product of theirs, closely followed by the new Age Defend Night Treatment" Of Beauty & Nothingness, Beauty Blogger
"Now I must admit I'm always a little nervous about trying new moisturisers as I hate heavy products that feel too rich & worry that they will lead my hormonal skin to breakouts. However, this product is anything but heavy & contains Co-enzyme Q10 & collagen-boosting vitamin A & despite the fact I initially pumped too much out of the bottle I was amazed at how quickly it absorbed into my skin & instantly left it feeling smoother & looking plumper."
"I love candlelight. Something about it is so soothing. And better yet if the candle smells incredible. I’ve recently been loving the ARK Spa Aromatics Travel Candle. It’s small enough to take it with you on your travels so you can take your favourite scent with you wherever you go but big enough to have lots of burn time." Beauty Rocks, Lifestyle & Beauty Blogger
"At night, (especially when I was using the tool on my neck) I felt a lot of tension released. That’s what sitting at a laptop for most of the day typing can do for you folks! I did – through repeated use (and I stress the repeated use) – notice a difference especially to my eye area – it did appear that my brows were lifted and my eyes were more open." Living Pretty Happy, Beauty & Lifestyle Blogger
Pre-Cleanse Makeup Remover & Defend Conditioning Cleanser
"I've been using these products for a few weeks now & I'm impressed with both. The Pre Cleanse & Make-Up Remover effectively removes all traces of my make up, even when wearing a heavy smokey eye & when used with the Conditioning Cleanser I've found my skin has been left feeling deeply cleansed & smooth." My Midlife Fashion, Fashion Blogger
Triple Action Exfoliator
"I’ve used the ARK Skincare Triple Action Exfoliator once and I adored it.
Once I washed the exfoliator off my face, my skin felt incredibly soft and smooth. This is such a satisfying feeling and I couldn’t stop touching my face. It reminded me of when I got a microdermabrasion treatment as my skin’s texture felt completely renewed." A Womans Confidence Beauty & Lifestyle Blogger.
" Before I used this serum, I genuinely used to use about four different ones to try and target different issues but this one does it all. It saves so much time only having to apply one product and I’ve definitely noticed a huge difference since using this serum. My pores are definitely way less obvious, it calms my redness and even my blackheads have reduced." According to Alice Beauty & Lifestyle Blogger.
"This went onto the skin beautifully and was super easily absorbed. I had been searching for a new daily SPF product for months and this is literally exactly what I wanted to add to my skincare routine, as I know it's protecting my skin from any harmful UVA and UVB rays, maintaining its youthfulness and overall health as well. "The "airbrush" finish allows makeup to glide on effortlessly and last all day long." Coconut Couture, Lifestyle Blogger
Skin Essential Reverse Gravity Eye Cream
"Another award-winning product I have been enjoying using is the ARK Skincare Gravity Defying Eye Treatment. This product is amazing at reducing the appearance of wrinkles and help to fade dark circles and diminishes puffiness." Juelook, Beauty & Lifestyle Blogger
You can view all of these products using the links above, or click here to go straight to the ARK Skincare website!
How To Lift Your Mood
Apr 16, 20208 TOP TIPS
We all have our days where we don't feel so good and need a little bit of comfort. So, this week, we thought we'd share some of our top tips to help lift and boost your mood, for when you're in need of a pick me up. Remember you can always chat with us on socials too, we love hearing from you! @ARKskincare
Sometimes it can feel easier to push negative emotions away, rather than actually dealing with them. However, ignoring the way you’re really feeling and bottling things up can often do more damage than good.
Be kind to yourself. Take some time out and reflect on what it is that might be making you feel down. Perhaps sharing your feelings with a friend or family member might help. Or, if you don’t feel like talking, allow yourself some time to accept how you feel. Sometimes a good cry to a sad film can relieve a lot of built-up tension and make you feel a lot better!
Chatting with friends or family members can always help to boost your mood. While we all know face to face interaction is limited right now, why not call or facetime someone you haven’t caught up with for a while? Start a virtual hangout and have your own ‘pub’ quiz with your best friends and favorite drinks, or get creative with an online game of Pictionary!
Do you ever find yourself so submerged with something, then you look at the clock and hours have gone by? Find something you enjoy doing and allow yourself some time to have fun! There’s plenty of things to keep you occupied - a funny film or tv show, writing/drawing, puzzles, online quizzes, or even virtual games you can play online with friends!
While they're a lot less chatty, if you have a pet, spend some time with them too! Animals can bring us so much joy with the little things they do and can be a great company when you're feeling low.
“The way to someone's heart is through their stomach!” - A tasty treat is always a great way to put a smile on someone's face. There are plenty of free recipes online, so why not have a go at trying one yourself? Baking can be a really therapeutic way of keeping busy for a few hours and as a bonus, you'll have an afternoon treat to go with a cup of tea!
If you're in need of some inspiration, take a look at these yummy looking recipes!
Mary Berry’s Lemon Drizzle Loaf
Offering an act of kindness to others is always a nice thing to do. It can make somebody’s day and you’ll feel great seeing their reaction, knowing you’ve done lovely something for them. Ideas could be offering some help to somebody who is struggling, treating a loved one to a home-cooked meal or even showing a smile to a stranger.
Having something positive to listen to is always a good way to lift the mood. Put together a playlist of all your favorite songs to put on or find something interesting to listen to. There are plenty of podcasts online where people talk about all kinds of different topics.
For an all-round feel-good podcast, The Mental Makeover Podcast has lots of episodes on how to live a happier lifestyle, including topics such as the law of attraction, boosting your mood and improving your self-confidence. Definitely worth a listen!
Although we all know the importance of staying inside at the moment, we can still get our dose of vitamin D! Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin, known as the happy hormone. Even going for a short walk or standing outside for 5-10 minutes can help. Just don't forget your SPF!
Taking some time out to practice self-care is so important for good mental health. Run a bath, pop a face mask on, grab some of your favourite body products and treat yourself to a few hours to yourself to relax and unwind. An early night now and again helps too - a rested mind makes anyone feel better!
If you really want to treat yourself, take a look at ARK Skincare's new Uplifting Care package! The perfect gift to treat yourself or a friend to.
Includes:
- Vitality Hand & Body Wash
- Nourishing Body Lotion
- Hydrating Beauty Mist
- ARK Washbag
You can find more of our other care packages and gifts here.
References:
Psychology Today - 10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Mood
Very Well Mind - How to Instantly Lift Your Mood
Healthline - What Are The Benefits Of Sunlight?
Product Focus: ARK Skincare's Intensive Hand & Nail Cream
Mar 27, 2020
How do you keep your hands soft and supple? - A good hand cream!
Without mentioning what is going on right now, it's easy to say that we're all adamant about washing our hands a lot more. While this is extremely important, it's very easy to let your hands get dry, especially in the cold weather. So, as a gift from us to you, we're adding in a free hand cream to every order placed over £5.
To help you to understand what makes this product a multi-award winning staple in our range, we thought we would share the ingredients that make it up, what they do and how they benefit the skin.
Raspberry Seed Oil
Raspberry seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids such as omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9. It also contains high levels of vitamin E making it the perfect lipid choice for daily protection as it provides protection and moisture retention for the skin.
Shea Butter & Cocoa Butter
Shea butter melts at skin temperature, helping to moisturise the skin as it easily absorbed without leaving the skin feeling sticky. It is well-known for overcoming dry, irritated and sensitized skin and cocoa butter can help to improve elasticity.
Kiwi & Avocado Oil
Kiwi oil helps to maintain moisture in the skin and prevent drying and scaling. It can also help aid in the relief of itchy, scaly, irritated skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. The fatty acids within avocado oil have excellent moisturising properties that help regenerate and rejuvenate the skin.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed Oil is rich in both Omega 6 and vitamin E, which helps to moisturise the skin and give it the ability to bounce back. It is easily absorbed by the skin and leaves it feeling soft and silky. This oil also contains a powerful antioxidant ingredient called proanthocyanidin. This antioxidant may even out skin tone when it’s used on your skin consistently.
Red Algae
Red algae is known for its amazing skin benefits including increasing moisture, moisture retention and promoting smooth skin. It also has the ability to block UV rays, protecting the skin against pigmentation, sun damage, and dark spots. It has also been clinically proven to prevent wrinkles.
Blackcurrant Seed Oil
A rich natural source of Vitamin C, Blackcurrant Seed Oil is a powerful antioxidant-rich plant oil that contains therapeutic properties, making it a wonderful healing oil for inflammation. The oil's high antioxidant content helps to protect skin cells from free radical damage which can be caused by the environment.
Press & Awards
ALL THE BEST PRIMERS - Ayelined
Oct 22, 2019Trona from Ayelined wrote a blog post all about her favourite primers. "I previously wasn’t a huge fan of primer. I never liked the slippery silicone feel on my skin. But recently primers have got much better. They don’t feel as heavy or slippy anymore. I especially appreciate them a bit more now I’m getting older. A good primer can help makeup look smoother and last longer. I’m reviewing a selection of some of my recent favourite primers."
This included our ARK Skincare Skin Protector SPF30 Primer ! "If you’re looking for a natural, high end primer that is super multi-tasking ARK Skin Protector SPF 30 Primer* is the one for you! This award-winning primer feels luxurious and is definitely a more refined, sophisticated formula than the previous primers I’ve mentioned (which is reflected in its price tag). My skin feels smoother, brighter and hydrated after applying this primer SPF.
Makeup goes on easily over the top and lasts a bit longer than usual. What I like most about ARK Skin Protector though is how fresh my skin looks after application plus the SPF protection is a winner for me. "
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Read the full blog post HERE
Shop our SPF30 Primer HERE
Back to you Beauty - Mature Skin Series
Sep 20, 2019Sharon from Back to you Beauty has started a 'Mature Skin Series' and recently did a post about testing the perfect face mists for mature skin. In this post she features our Skin Essential Hydrating Beauty Mist.
"I use a face mist everyday, a couple of times for different reasons. Sometimes as soon as I wake up – to wake up! Other times I spritz one over a face masque before I remove it, sometimes i use one on the train when I am squashed in like a sardine and always to set my make up."
"If you watch my Instastories Often, you will have seen me using this loads lately. I just love the scent of refreshing Wild Mint and the way my skin feels suddenly cool and calm. This spray is perfect for all ages and stages of skin but I have included it in my mature skin round-up as I think that a hot, flushed skin, dehydrated skin or someone with those fine lines and wrinkles can really benefit from the hydrating properites it offers. The cooling sensation of that Wild Mint and the beautiful ingredients included make this a joy to use. Goji and Blue Lotus (which is in a lot of much higher price point skincare) bring lots of anti-oxidant rich, brightening properties as well as detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties which I think work wonderfully on menopausal skin. I am loving this brand so much and I know you will too."
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Shop our Hydrating Beauty Mist HERE
Read the full blog post HERE
Vegan Skincare - ARK Skincare by Opposable Thumbs
Sep 20, 2019Joanne from Opposable Thumbs wrote a blog post all about our vegan skincare and our SPF30 Primer.
"This multi tasker is a good bridge to see you through into winter, as it does SPF, primer and moisturising duties at once."
"I think you have to be careful with multi tasking products because there’s always the danger that the whole will add up to less than the sum of its parts. But this one has won awards for both Best Primer and Best Facial Sunscreen, and my experience is that it does the task well on both fronts. I was wearing this during the recent hot spell and my face didn’t suffer in the sun at all."
"It’s also very moisturising and gives quite a glowy finish, to the point where you can get away without using a separate moisturiser. I took it on a weekend away and it was very handy to only have to pack one product instead of three."
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Shop our SPF30 Primer HERE
Read the full blog post HERE
Stormvoe - Favourite Cleansers For Different Needs
Aug 19, 2019Stormvoe wrote a blog post about their 'Favourite Cleansers For Different Needs'.
"I have been testing a few products from Ark, a British, cruelty-free skincare brand including this Conditioning Cleanser* from the Age Defend range specifically created for 30 plus skin types. Being in my thirties I started paying more attention on what I put on my skin and over the years I have found a handful of products that deliver. I’m always on a hunt for something affordable with good ingredients to make a difference to my skin. Not only does this cleanser remove impurities but it also cares for your skin. It includes Morninga oil, which contains Vitamin A and C. All of these prevent your skin from losing its moisture while making sure it’s clean. What’s more, Kiwi and Passion Fruit oils combined with Omega 3 fatty acids boost hydration levels and Blue Lotus extract improves skin elasticity and firmness."
"If you’re after something that is designed purely for removing make up this Pre Cleanse and Make-Up Remover* from Ark could be for you. It’s a definite step up from your regular micellar water type of product. Infused with a combination of fruit oils (kiwi, grape seed, avocado), Omega 3, 6 and 9, it dissolves dirt and make up thoroughly while being gentle and soothing on the skin at the same time."
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Read the full blog post HERE
Shop our Cleansers HERE
Beauty | Let's take it off, Let's Talk Cleansers - The Naughty Forty Diaries
Aug 06, 2019Tracey from 'The Naughty Forty Diaries' wrote a blog post all about her favourite cleansers. "I thought I’d share 3 cleansers with you that I have received over the past month or so. Cleansers I am really enjoying using . I will probably purchase them all for myself after they have ran out." She featured our Age Defend Conditioning Cleanser.
"This cleanser is great for my second cleanse. It has been formulated especially for men and woman in their 30’s and 40’s .
The pump dispenser hygienically disperses just the right amount of clear gel cleanser that has a pleasant but not overpowering scent.
I apply a couple of pumps directly onto my BeGlow TIA before massaging around my face for a further few minutes.
It is a targeted cleanser with hydrating Moringa Oil to remove impurities, gently exfoliate and boost elasticity.
Kiwi, passion fruit lipids, Vitamin A and high levels of Omega 3 and Omega 6 to assist skins fitness and defend against moisture loss.
It leaves my skin feeling comfortable and clean without any dryness. Lines and wrinkles appear softer. It’s just a really lovely cleanser."
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Shop the Age Defend Cleanser HERE
Read the full Blog Post HERE
Radiance Serum - as seen in The Hills being used by Stephanie Pratt
Aug 02, 2019Stephanie Pratt was seen in 'The Hills: New Beginnings' using ARK Skincare's Radiance Serum to get ready for a night out in Vegas, July 2019.
The Radiance Serum is one for glow-seekers like Stephanie Pratt. Our Radiance Serum will brighten, soothe, hydrate and illuminate skin for a radiant dewy look in an instant. Helps reduce the appearance of hyper pigmentation. Stephanie Pratt adds a few drops to her foundation for that extra glow.
Shop our Radiance Serum HERE now
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Lippy in London - Age Defend Cleanser & Moisturiser Review
Jul 19, 2019'Lippy in London' tried out our Age Defend Cleanser & Moisturiser and here is what she thought!
"I had wanted to try ARK Skincare for quite a while so I'm really happy I've had the opportunity to try a couple of products over the past few weeks. Cruelty Free, vegan-friendly and utterly joyful to use, these two have been a welcome addition to my skincare stash but before I get into the details, here's a little bit about ARK."
"The cleanser and moisturiser both contain Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids which are rich in Omega 3 and help to retain moisture levels in the skin. Blue Lotus also features in both products. Touted as the 'sacred flower of anti-ageing', Blue Lotus is an effective antioxidant which helps to maintain firmness and elasticity."
"The award-winning Conditioning Cleanser is designed to cleanse, nourish and aid the skin's natural exfoliation process via a soothing gel formula. The cleanser contains Moringa Oil which is naturally rich in Vitamin C and A to help create a radiant, glowing complexion as it cleanses away makeup and dirt. 'Conditioning Cleanser' is a spot-on name for this formula as it's very comfortable to use - skin feels nice and clean but not tight or stripped. The Conditioning Cleanser also rinses away easily (this isn't necessarily a washcloth job) and is just really pleasant to use overall. It's worth mentioning that it also smells incredible - sort of herbal and both invigorating and relaxing at the same time. I realise that makes very little sense but you're just going to have to trust me on this."
"First and foremost, I really, really rate this moisturiser. From the packaging through to the finish of the formula, I'm very impressed! A cream formula with a slight gel consistency, the moisturiser has a Shea Butter and Olive Oil base enriched with Co-enzyme Q10 and skin plumping peptides including Matrixyl. Along with the aforementioned Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids and Blue Lotus, the Replenishing Moisturiser also contains Retinal Parmitate which is gentle enough for sensitive skin and works to increase collagen production and help to keep skin plump and resilient. Like the Age Defend cleanser, this moisturiser smells pretty amazing, which is always a bonus when it's going on your face."
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Read the full blog post HERE
Shop our Age Defend range HERE
Boy Does Beauty - Our Skincare is for males too!
Jul 19, 2019
All of our products are Unisex! Boy Does Beauty tried out our Vitality Hand & Body Wash and our Age Defend Conditioning Cleanser and here is what he thought; 'The body wash...is great for sensitive skin and especially people with eczema prone skin like mine! It contains vitamin B5 and aimino acids. This product for me is divine!!!...The scent is 100% natural and makes me want to stay in the shower all morning.'
'The conditioning cleanser is next on my list, this for me is beautiful! I was sold by reading the ingredients! It contains moringa oil which is rich in Vitamin A and C and gently removes make-up and grime while ensuring skin retains essential moisture. Also soothes redness and inflammation!'
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Follow @boydoesbeauty on Instagram
Shop our Age Defend Cleanser HERE and our Vitality Hand & Body Wash HERE
The ARK Skincare guide to living with Rosacea
Oct 03, 2018
Do you suffer from redness and facial flushing? Does it get you down, make you feel less confident, or even make you hide away? Do you find you feel like you need to use lots of make up to disguise it?
We are often asked how to help irritated skin, and to treat conditions such as Rosacea. Rosacea is a topic we have addressed in newsletters and blogs before, but since it is such a common concern, with millions of people suffering from it, we have decided to put together a guide. We hope this guide will help to explain the symptoms, and causes of Rosacea, and suggest tips which could reduce it. You may also wish to to view our full collection of skincare products design to soothe red skin by clicking here.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea often begins with a tendency to blush or flush more easily than other people. The redness can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Even the ears, chest, and back can be red all the time. But Rosacea can cause more than redness with many other associated signs and symptoms such as broken capillaries, acne, thickening of the skin, burning or stinging, and even eye irritations. You can read more about the different classifications of Rosacea here. Symptoms can be triggered by many things and, unfortunately, can vary so considerably between individuals that it can be very difficult to identify the exact cause.
Main causes of Rosacea
Environmental Factors - Hot weather, humidity, extreme cold or harsh winds can exaggerate the condition.
Dietary Causes -
Alcohol - A recent study showed alcohol consumption increases the chance of developing Rosacea
Certain foods - Spicy food, dairy, or even citrus may also make things worse
Food additives - MSG, Sulphites, and preservatives may exaggerate symptoms
Stress - Stress can be a major factor in a number of skin conditions and is considered a major cause of Rosacea. Anything which places undue pressure on you can be considered stress, and may impact your skin.
Sun Exposure - Skin prone to Rosacea is not happy in the sun. Sun, and exposure to UVA and UVB rays can make the condition far worse.
Fragrances and perfumes - Scent can increase redness and irritation. Artificial scent is a prime cause but some natural scents and essential oils can be a causal factor too.
Physical exercise - Extreme physical exercise can exaggerate and prolongue symptoms of Rosacea.
What can we suggest to help relieve the symptoms, and hopefully make you stop feeling like you have to hide away? Here are our top ten tips:
- Protect your skin from damaging UV rays. UV rays are the number one cause of Rosacea flare ups. Use a broad spectrum good quality facial SPF (have you tried ours) all year round. In high summer use a hat and stay out of direct sunlight.
- Keep a food diary. Diet can have a huge impact on Rosacea. Whilst it is not the only cause, controlling the intake of the foods which are thought to lead to flare ups can help keep redness under control. Common triggers are spicy food, alcohol, and caffeine but each person will have unique triggers they should avoid. Keep a food diary and note the appearance of your skin each day, or consider intolerance testing, which may identify foods you should avoid.
- Consider the environment around you. Extremes of temperature and pollution can aggravate Rosacea. Hot weather, cold winds, high humidity, and urban pollution can all be problematic. Keep cool, avoid steam, wrap up against cold winds, and protect from pollution.
- Manage stress levels. Stress is known to exaggerate skin concerns. Use stress management strategies and take care of your whole self. Sleep, eat well, exercise, and consider including meditation or breathing exercises in your daily routine. All will help.
- Keep well. Being unwell can show on your skin. Fever, coughs and colds, high blood pressure, and serious illness can cause Rosacea flare ups. Occasionally long term medication can affect the sensitivity of your skin. If you take medication and suffer from redness discuss it with your GP and explore alternatives. Consider taking multivitamins to keep well especially those with vitamin C and Zinc.
- Wash your make up brushes. In an independent survey of 1000 people 44% said they had never cleaned their make up brushes! Several studies have shown that make up brushes can be contaminated with dangerously high levels of bacteria, and in some cases carried more bacteria than was found on a loo brush! Clean those brushes to prevent skin irritations and redness flare ups.
- Go make up free. Consider having a break from make up and see if your redness comes down. Some ingredients in cosmetics can cause irritation. If you have a break from make up and your skin improves reintroduce your products one by one to see which ones cause a flare up. You may be able to identify key ingredients to avoid.
- Avoid scent. Scent can be a major cause of skin irritation. Stop using perfumes and avoid facial, body, and bath products that are highly scented. Even some essential oils can be irritating to the skin.
- Alter your exercise routine. Exercise is reported by many Rosacea sufferers as a cause of flare ups. But don’t stop exercising! It is essential to your stress management and overall wellbeing. Instead alter the way you exercise. Consider short blasts of high intensity work outs rather than prolonged sessions. Avoid working out in a stuffy hot room, but instead make sure the gym is well ventilated and ideally air conditioned. Try using a beauty mist to keep cool during classes. Try swimming. AND always keep hydrated. It is essential to keep your water consumption up.
- Skincare. Products can help, but choose carefully. Use products which are free from known irritants. Avoid highly scented products and make sure you select those suited to sensitive skins. Keep your routine simple – “less is more” – and do not chop and change your products or over stimulate your skin. When applying products be gentle. Do not rub your face, or use harsh exfoliators or scrubs, and when cleansing with water avoid extremes of temperature - use hand warm water and a soft cloth. Resist the temptation to wash you face when in a power shower. The strong jets can cause sensitivity and redness to flare. Seek advice as to the best products for you. Our soothing Anti-Redness Serum contains a botanical complex clinically proven to calm and protect sensitive, and regularly receives 5 star reviews, you can find our more about it on our website and shop all products to help with redness here.
Controlling Rosacea involves looking at all aspects of your lifestyle. Follow these tips to help keep your skin calm. Don’t be disheartened or allow it to upset you. You are not alone. In fact, you are in good company with film stars, princes, and presidents reportedly suffering too. Friend of the ARK brand Lisa Faulkner recently discussed her battles with the condition and luckily had some success with the ARK Anti redness serum which you can see more about here.
Shop products to soothe redness now
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References:
American academy of dermatology
National Rosacea Society
Study to investigate the effect of alcohol on Rosacea
The A list guide to living with Rosacea
MedicineNet
BMJ Learning
ARK Skincare Blog
April - Stress Awareness Month. What is causing you stress and how can you cope with it?
Apr 25, 2018Did you know April is stress awareness month? A month to become aware of what may be causing you stress, how it affects you, and how to adopt coping mechanisms.
It is possible to measure the amount of stress in your life and whether it is likely to affect your health. Doctors often use the Homes and Rahe stress scale which lists 43 life events which may cause stress. This can be very useful and interesting studies have resulted from it. However, it is also worth remembering that anything which puts a high demand on you can cause you stress, which can have negative effects on both your body and mind.
When we are stressed Cortisol is released by the body. We have discussed Cortisol before as it can have very negative effects on skin causing skin sensitivities, break outs, and irritations. Cortisol is released as part of our fight or flight defence mechanism. It is not all bad as in small doses it prepares us for action. However, large or prolonged doses can have a number of negative effects on our health. Unfortunately, as we age, the amount of Cortisol we release increases, and it takes longer for this potentially damaging hormone to return to normal levels, meaning we are exposed to it for longer, and negative side effects may be seen.
The first step to managing stress, and reducing cortisol, is to acknowledge it. We can not adopt coping mechanisms unless we acknowledge what is adversely affecting us. There are a number of signs which can help us identify if we are chronically stressed. Poor memory, lack of concentration, only seeing negatives, as well as irritability, anxiety or a change in eating patterns can all be symptoms. Take the time this month to assess situations which may be affecting you and then find ways to cope with them.
Coping mechanisms can help us overcome chronic stress. Coping can be achieved by changing the situation you find yourself in, or by changing your reaction to the situation. There are a lot of well documented ways to cope. The key is to find what is right for you.
Top tips which have helped some of the ARK Skincare team:
Laugh - studies have shown laughter can reduce the stress hormone Cortisol. Find something which makes you laugh and do it more!
Exercise - symptoms of stress can be reduced by including physical exercise in your weekly routine. Just twenty minutes a week can have a positive effect on mental wellbeing according to this study
Unplug - modern technology can seriously increase the amount of demands placed upon us. Take time to "unplug", turn off devices, and slow down.
Be mindful - take time to bring your complete attention to the present moment. There are plenty of techniques, find out more here
Massage - Studies have found that regular massage can reduce stress and improve sleep patterns. There are many different kinds. Find a therapist here
In summary it is key to remember to accept that stress is unavoidable. You can take steps to reduce your stress and learn how to cope with it, but you will never be completely rid of stress. Stress serves a purpose as a healthy response to overwhelming situations or perceived threats, and it can be dealt with in an equally healthy fashion. Remembering this is, in itself, a good coping strategy.
When we are stressed Cortisol is released by the body. We have discussed Cortisol before as it can have very negative effects on skin causing skin sensitivities, break outs, and irritations. Cortisol is released as part of our fight or flight defence mechanism. It is not all bad as in small doses it prepares us for action. However, large or prolonged doses can have a number of negative effects on our health. Unfortunately, as we age, the amount of Cortisol we release increases, and it takes longer for this potentially damaging hormone to return to normal levels, meaning we are exposed to it for longer, and negative side effects may be seen.
The first step to managing stress, and reducing cortisol, is to acknowledge it. We can not adopt coping mechanisms unless we acknowledge what is adversely affecting us. There are a number of signs which can help us identify if we are chronically stressed. Poor memory, lack of concentration, only seeing negatives, as well as irritability, anxiety or a change in eating patterns can all be symptoms. Take the time this month to assess situations which may be affecting you and then find ways to cope with them.
Coping mechanisms can help us overcome chronic stress. Coping can be achieved by changing the situation you find yourself in, or by changing your reaction to the situation. There are a lot of well documented ways to cope. The key is to find what is right for you.
Top tips which have helped some of the ARK Skincare team:
Laugh - studies have shown laughter can reduce the stress hormone Cortisol. Find something which makes you laugh and do it more!
Exercise - symptoms of stress can be reduced by including physical exercise in your weekly routine. Just twenty minutes a week can have a positive effect on mental wellbeing according to this study
Unplug - modern technology can seriously increase the amount of demands placed upon us. Take time to "unplug", turn off devices, and slow down.
Be mindful - take time to bring your complete attention to the present moment. There are plenty of techniques, find out more here
Massage - Studies have found that regular massage can reduce stress and improve sleep patterns. There are many different kinds. Find a therapist here
In summary it is key to remember to accept that stress is unavoidable. You can take steps to reduce your stress and learn how to cope with it, but you will never be completely rid of stress. Stress serves a purpose as a healthy response to overwhelming situations or perceived threats, and it can be dealt with in an equally healthy fashion. Remembering this is, in itself, a good coping strategy.
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Shop our De-Stress Serum:
