Valentines is one of the most romantic dates on the calendar so making sure it goes smoothly can mean a lot. Along with plans for a gorgeous outfit and inspirational venue - make sure your skincare preparations will ensure you have lovely skin too.
Valentines is a time when skin confidence is more important than ever. Yet the anticipation of it combined with people often trying out new cosmetics or having cosmetic treatments such as fillers combined with the time of year it occurs which is high flu and cold season, can mean that skin issues like cold sores or acne break outs are quite likely. It’s also a time when intimate comfort is of particular importance both for self-confidence as well as intimate health.
The most effective way to avoid these very common skin issues is via preparation and preventative action well in advance of the date itself.”
Skin experts highlight three of the most common skin issues that can crop up in the run up to Valentines and how to make sure they don’t sabotage a Valentines date.
Cold Sores
Cold sores are typically triggered by three common factors, UV light, lowered immunity and localised trauma to the lips.
So firstly, if you are either going away on a sunny break or winter ski holiday for Valentines or thinking of topping up your tan in a tanning salon before your date, then be aware that sun or UV rays are a prime trigger for a cold sore outbreak.
If you have recently suffered from flu or a cold in the weeks previous to Valentines, you’ll also be at a much higher risk of a cold sore outbreak.
Finally, any trauma to the lips can trigger a cold sore so if you have scheduled to have lip fillers before Valentines, maybe think again as research shows that lip fillers often trigger the cold sore virus that lies dormant in the skin around the lips.
Anything that dries out the lips can also trigger cracking and chapping. Exercising outside in cold dry winds and matt lipsticks and long-stay lipsticks are particular culprits for chapped lips. Abrasive foods such as crusty bread and crisps, are also an easy way to cause micro damage to lips and risk a cold sore outbreak.
Cold Sore Prevention SOS
There are very few options available for actually preventing cold sores, most pharmacy products are for use once a cold sore has appeared, by which time the sore is contagious and any close physical contact or kissing it best avoided.
What the experts suggest;
Lip Q Liquorice Lip Gel has been proven by the Herpes Virus Association to reduce the frequency and intensity of cold sore outbreaks.
Marian Nicholson from the Herpes Viruses Association says; "Research on liquorice root extract as a preventative for cold sores was interesting so we carried out an in vivo trial. Quite often results which look impressive in a test tube are not as effective in real life testers. However, the Lip Q formula containing liquorice root extract performed well with respondents showing a marked reduction in severity and duration of their cold sores which is why we’re happy to recommend this product as a preventative to our members.”
So, consider priming your lips with liquorice in the run up to Valentines and you could help prevent cold sore outbreak before your date.
Break Outs
Acne breakouts often come at the worst times and Valentines is no exception, especially if you suffer from oily skin. Many people who suffer from acne will be tempted to turn to products to try and dry up or scrub away sebum in the hope this will reduce the risk of a breakout before their Valentines dates.
However, acne itself isn’t caused by the over-production of sebum. In fact, a higher production of sebum is very good for skin as it’s the skin’s natural moisturiser. The nature of sebum production is that the more you try and dry it up or cleanse it away, the more the skin will produce, and you can end up in a vicious cycle. It’s the pooled sebum in the skin pore going rancid due to mixing with external bacteria that causes acne, not the sebum itself.
Acne Prevention SOS
So many acne sufferers are facing a never-ending battle when it comes to sebum control. The best way to deal with the issue of oily skin and break outs is to focus on the sebum itself and reducing the risk of contamination as it passes out through the skin pore.
What the experts suggest;
Clarol Sebopure contains a sebum-preserving ingredient called Pixalia that prevents sebum contamination by keeping sebum pure as it pushes out through the skin pore.
Dr Barbara Brockway, an independent skin Biochemist at Reading University says, “It’s a common misconception that excess sebum is the cause of acne and treatments that aim to dry up or reduce sebum production are not aiming at the root cause of the problem. It’s not sebum itself that is the enemy, it’s rancid sebum. Rancid sebum is caused by the process of oxidisation when the sebum is mixed with oxygen on reaching the skin’s surface and starts to oxidise. The acne bacteria’s main food source is rancid sebum, and so the more food it feeds off the quicker it multiplies leading to pore blockages, inflammation and of course acne.
Pixalia is a polyphenol rich extract with seven scientific studies showing its effectiveness for helping adult acne and its function for preventing acne is relatively simple. Its main function is that it prevents the oxidation process of sebum, keeping sebum preserved and pure. If sebum remains pure the acne bacteria is effectively starved, resulting in less pore blockages without damaging or drying surrounding skin.”
Using this sebum-purifier in the run up to Valentines could help avoid the congestion that leads to acne as well as leaving skim less flaky and dry and more supple for a natural Valentines glow up.
For any deeper down emerging spots, anti-inflammatory measures are the most effective way to tackle the issue and hopefully prevent the emerging spot from surfacing.
What the experts suggest;
Clarol ZnO Clear a 100% natural zinc oxide spot-on overnight treatment that quickly reduces the inflammation of isolated emerging spots.
Dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh says, “Zinc oxide is one of nature’s best anti-inflammatories when it comes to skin. It helps bring down inflammation with a very low risk of irritation. If caught early enough, reducing the inflammation of an emerging acne lesion helps lessen the congestion and oxidisation potential and can, with a bit of luck, prevent the lesion rising to the surface of the skin.”
So let you can let nature’s little miracle-worker do all the hard work while you get your beauty sleep for your big date.
Intimate Issues
It might make us blush to admit it but making sure intimate skin is feeling comfortable and healthy before Valentines could be one of the most important skincare preparations of all.
Yet during a time when immune systems are often at an all-year low and intimate areas are trapped inside heavier and unbreathable clothing and tights due to the cold weather while also being a time when Valentine’s preparations such as intimate depilation are more likely, intimate health is often compromised in the run up to Valentines.
Intimate Issues Prevention SOS
Any trauma to the intimate skin from depilation can trigger intimate irritation and raises the risk of bacterial infection. Vaginal bacterial imbalance from antibiotics taken for winter ailments raise the risk of both fungal and bacterial overgrowth and coupled with the airless and sweaty environment inside heavier winter clothes and tights, mean this is vulnerable time for intimate itching and discomfort. Scented intimate washes, creams or lubricants can also lead to uncomfortable vaginal itching and vaginal dryness.
What the experts suggest
The In2mate range are three intimate products, a wash, an intimate moisturiser and an everyday vaginal natural lubricant, that contain targeted plant-based ingredients including prebiotics and antioxidants, to repair microdamage to intimate skin, reduce itching from bacterial and fungal build up and lubricate and rejuvenate intimate skin internally and externally using over 99% natural and completely perfume-free ingredients.
Dr Debjani Mukhopadhyay, consultant NHS gynaecologist says; 'Vaginal dryness and irritation can lead to the acidic pH level of the vagina becoming more alkaline, which is ideal for bad bacteria and fungal growth to flourish and infections to develop. The use of restorative and prebiotic compounds in vaginal skincare such as those in in2mate products encourages the growth of good bacteria which studies show can help repair chafed, weakened and infected skin in vaginal tissue.”
Prepare your intimates by making sure any microdamage, bacterial build-up and irritation are soothed and sorted before the Valentines adventures begin.
A complete Valentines Skin SOS Pack includes all the Valentines Skin SOS products for a generously discounted price.
