The Best Way to Treat Problem Skin
- Heidi Gordon-Smith
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
If you have have oily, combination, acne-prone, dry or sensitive skin then your skin is out of balance and there are several every-day things that could be making it worse.
With any skin issue I would advise stripping your skincare routine down to the basics until you find the root cause of the imbalance- less is more. Skin imbalances can be caused by many things from food intolerances, allergies, hormones, diet, environmental factors and stress among others. Unfortunately, the wrong skincare routine could be making the problem worse.
Below are some of the common mistakes that people make when it comes to skincare and what to do instead.
Cleansing
Cleansing is the most important step in any skincare routine. It doesn't matter if you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, with any imbalance always simplify your cleansing routine. Your skin should never be dry, tight or sore after cleansing- if it is your cleanser is too harsh. Properly cleansed skin should never be crying out for a moisturiser. The right cleanser should leave your skin feeling clean and supple whilst removing dirt and dead skin cells and preparing the skin for your moisturiser.
If your skin is very out of balance and sensitive then the best way to cleanse your skin is to use water or herbal or green tea but not tap water as it is full of chlorine and anything but sterile. You will need to use filtered water. I like to soak a flannel in cold filtered water in the morning and lay it over my face. In the evening I do the same but I boil the filtered water and make a bowl of green tea, I then let it cool or add some cold filtered water and I lay a warm flannel on my face soaked in green tea and gently steam off any dirt or make up repeating the process until my face feels clean. There is a reset period for out of balance skin but over time your skin should regain balance with a simple cleansing routine. A warm green tea steam will help to regulate sebum production as well as gently hydrating the skin.
Cleansing too often can cause an overproduction of sebum- sebum is the skin's natural moisturiser. Those little black dots on your skin aren't blackheads but blocked sebum plugs. Using an extremely gentle cleanser and massaging your skin for a full minute will help to release the blocked sebum plugs. You can also do a facial steam by laying a warm wet flannel on your face but make sure it isn't too hot as hot water can dry out the skin.
Moisturising
Sometimes, people with dry or sensitive skin just apply natural oils to their skin in the hope that it will be more gentle. If you apply a thick moisturiser or an oil to dry skin it can block out moisture causing or worsening dry skin conditions. Oil is an occlusive so it acts like a barrier blocking out moisture. For this reason it is very important to apply a water containing product before applying a balm or a face oil. That way the oil can do it's job properly and lock in the moisture and the moisturiser can also do its job allowing your skin to absorb the active ingredients and achieve proper hydration.
The correct moisturiser will be full of antioxidants to protect your skin from free radicals as well as offering a balance of omegas 3, 6 and 9 and vitamins to nourish the skin. Thin dry oils sink deep into the layers of the skin offering deep hydration and preventing dry skin whilst thicker oils can sit on the surface so you need the right balance of nutrients in a moisturiser. Water or floral waters in a moisturiser help your skin to absorb the active ingredients.
Nasty ingredients to avoid in your skincare
Check the ingredients; long unpronounceable words are usually chemicals so steer clear. Look for the most simple plant based ingredients, think natural oils, shea butter, cacao butter, plant extracts and essential oils (organic where possible).
Avoid "perfume", "parfum" and "fragrance": artificial fragrances contain up to 2000 chemicals that wreak havoc with your hormones and can build up as residue in your organs.
Avoid all alcohol in your skincare except "cetearyl alcohol" which isn't an alcohol but actually a plant based emulsifier.
Some nasty ingredients to avoid: SLS, PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) , phthalates, parabens, alcohols, perfume and triclosan
Healing tips for dry, ageing, acne-prone and sensitive skin
One of the most healing ways to cleanse your skin is using pure filtered water or warm herbal/ green tea (as explained above). I like to use cold filtered water in the morning and a warm green tea steam at night.
For dry skin or extra protection in the winter rub a few drops of facial oil between your palms and press into your skin with your palms on top of your moisturiser. This will help to seal in moisture and prevent dry skin.
Another tip for dry skin is to use an over-night balm on top of your moisturiser to lock in moisture. a shea and cacao butter based balm is particularly hydrating.
Remember for dry skin always put a moisturiser, hydrating mist or serum on before a balm or face oil to avoid locking out moisture.
Matcha and green tea help to balance out sebum production so are good for both oily and dry skin as well as being very high in antioxidants. Matcha is particularly high in antioxidants and chlorophyll which have shown to help with ageing and problem skin as well as hyperpigmentation and UV induced cell damage. You can try a green tea steam and our Sacred Skin healing face cream also contains matcha ground green tea for a potent burst of antioxidants.
Try some of our frequency charged skincare with healing frequencies to target skin and health issues or get a personalised frequency analysis done and find out which frequencies you need most. The price of the analysis is currently redeemable on products. https://www.thehealingtreeskincare.com/book-online
Have a go at facial gua sha to help improve penetration of your skincare as well as boosting lymphatic drainage, balancing sebum production, boosting collagen production and reducing fine lines and wrinkles and toning and lifting the face. (avoid passing over pimples, moles and inflamed or broken skin with the gua sha tool)
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not a substitute for medical advice. All information, content, descriptions, comments, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. The use of this content is at your sole risk
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