6 INGREDIENTS YOU SHOULD BE REMOVING FROM YOUR ROUTINE THIS YEAR

The new year is well underway and you’re feeling ready to iron out your daily routine and get back to feeling your very best, your skin included! There are countless common skincare ingredients that could be the culprit in causing those unwanted skin concerns that have been bothering you. These irritating and inflaming ingredients can be a direct link to skin conditions like eczema, acne and rosacea. Cutting out these skin stressors will help you feel calm and comfortable again, ready to take on the new year ahead.

Here’s the low-down on the top 6 pesky ingredients that you should look to remove from your routine this year, to keep your skin looking and feeling its very best.

Fragrances & Dyes
If you use products that contain synthetic fragrances or dyes, this can lead to increased inflammation in the skin. They can also affect the skin’s ability to heal itself and worsen symptoms like dryness, breakouts and redness. These ingredients can be a leading source of allergic reactions to skincare products or makeup, so sensitive skin sufferers in particular should steer clear of these.

Alcohol
Alcohol in skincare can reduce the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture. This can often lead to an increase in oil production in the skin, which can worsen acne on the skin due to the increased sebum production. As the alcohol removes moisture from the skin, this can leave the skin’s protective barrier weakened and more susceptible to the effects of external irritants that could potentially do even more damage to your skin.

Silicones
Silicone is a common ingredient in skincare formulas, due to its great moisture trapping ability to keep hydration in and improve the appearance of flaky, dry skin. However, this can also keep other unwanted things trapped into the skin, like oils and bacteria that could increase the risk of a flare up of skin conditions like acne or rosacea. It could be doing more harm than good for your skin, so it’s best to use ingredients that provide hydration while also allowing skin to breathe as it should!

SLS & SLES
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are common surfactants, known to cause skin irritation and often worsen skin problems as well as negatively affecting the skin’s pH. These foaming agents should be avoided to prevent increased skin sensitivity and inflammation.

Paraffin
Paraffin forms a barrier over the skin which is designed to trap in moisture, but in doing this it can also clog pores and exacerbate acne-prone skin. This doesn’t allow the skin to shed waste as it normally would, increasing the risk of bacterial and fungal infections. Let your skin breathe and stay away from paraffin based skincare products.

Steroids
When used in skincare products, steroids can cause skin thinning, making it more fragile and prone to irritation that might flare up any pesky skin conditions. When used for extended periods of time and then discontinued, it can lead to a condition called topical steroid withdrawal or TSW, which appears as redness, flaking and itching of the skin. Stick to natural formulations to avoid your skin becoming reliant on steroids.

Ready to step into the year with natural skincare? No more added nasties, just naturally-active and prebiotic ingredients to give your skin everything it needs to take care of you! The Sorted Skin Range is totally free from all of the above, with cruelty-free, vegan and natural formulations to keep your skin feeling happy and healthy all year long.