To kick off our series of Q + A, we will begin with some questions I often get asked in regards to skin care.
Love + Light, Stephanie Bigart
I have never used an oil cleanser before. Why would it be good for my skin?
SB: I love oil cleansing! It is so nourishing for the skin. I know it can be scary to think of using an oil as a cleansing agent for the skin (especially if you have oily skin) but trust me, it works! Oil cleansing does not strip the skin of its natural microbiome, but rather provides nourishment and healing for the skin and at the same time removes impurities. However, not all oils are created equal. Cleansing oils should only be formulated with high-quality plant-based oils. Our Sageborn Purifying Cleansing Oil is a skin-quenching mix of organic sunflower oil, organic avocado oil, and organic rosehip oil. These oils are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids that help fight free radical damage and plump your skin. Massage a small amount of cleansing oil onto the face and neck and remove using our Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloth. You will immediately notice how great your skin will feel! To learn more about oil cleansing, you can read our blog post here.
How often should I exfoliate my skin?
SB: Exfoliation is a key step in a healthy skin care routine. Exfoliation should happen at least once/week for overall skin vibrancy and skin health. My recommendation is that exfoliation should take place as part of a nightly routine versus a morning routine since the skin will be more exposed and it is best to let the skin repair while sleeping. Oftentimes, exfoliation methods are too rough on the skin, causing damage to the skin and even killing those healthy baby skin cells. (such as microdermabrasion or a chemical peel) I developed our Montana Clay Facial Masque as a light detox and exfoliation for the skin and it works great, especially when used in the shower as the steam in the shower really activates the masque. After exfoliation, it is important to remember to hydrate the skin using a rich oil or facial moisturizer. I combine our Rejuvenating Facial Oil with our Anti-Aging Carrot Seed Facial Moisturizer for the ultimate hydration after exfoliating.
What is the best way to heal a blemish?
SB: Rule #1 - Leave it alone! I know it is so hard to not pick the blemish but it is key to allowing it to heal more quickly. It is also best to try to not apply make-up to the blemish which I know can be hard as you want it to be concealed as much as possible. However, putting make-up on top of a blemish only can make it worse--the bacteria can become trapped and the chemicals oftentimes added into make-up can be very irritating for the skin. I developed our Healing Blemish Treatment as a way to help calm redness in blemishes and help heal the blemishes very quickly--it totally works! I don't like to leave on a trip without this product as it truly cuts the healing time down in half (especially if you apply it morning and night and don't apply anything else to the blemish) Also, if you are getting blemishes on a regular basis, try journaling when you are getting them to look for common themes. You can learn more about blemishes and ways to heal them in our recent blog post here.