I love the feeling of summer coming – the longer evenings, the brighter days and not always having to wear my coat! It’s also a time of year when we can look forward to giving our skin a break and a boost and for that reason I have devised my Skin Fasting routine, which kick starts the skin to look and feel better.
‘By helping the skin to reprogram itself, the skin learns to self heal and restore the natural hydrating properties without being reliant on too many skin care products’.Anyone can follow the program, although it is particularly useful for those who have oily or dry skin, or sensitive irritated skin. It’s also ideal for those who are reliant on a large number of skin care products and need to reduce them. Sometimes we are just too overloaded!!
So how does it work and what can you do?
First of all we take it down to the basics. Only three products are allowed for three weeks:
1. Cleanser – a good cleanser will take you anywhere!
For dry and sensitive skins I recommend the SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser. For those with oily skin ZO Exfoliating Cleanser is my choice.
2. Serum – everyone will be different here, since each skin type and requirements differ. My recommendations are:
a) Acne prone skin – use serums containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinol or a combination of these ingredients e.g. GloTherapeutic Renew Serum
b) Dry skin – use hydrating serums containing hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and growth factors e.g. Endocare Tensage Serum
c) Sensitive skin – use calming serums containing aloe vera, cucumber extract and botanicals e.g. SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective
3. Sunscreen – so important in our routine, sunscreen protects against all those harmful rays that end up causing so many of the aging signs. A minimum of SPF25 is required or use Oxygenetix Foundation which is my selection for a foundation that contains healing properties and is good for the skin. Heliocare Silk Gel is also another gem.
No moisturisers are to be used during the fast! Why? Because they sit only on the epidermis and send triggers to the dermis to tell it that the skin has enough moisture. The skin then stops producing it’s natural hydration and becomes dry. Sebum production then kicks in and the skin becomes combination. By reducing moisturiser, the skin’s natural balance mechanism kicks in and after a few days of adjustment the skin can balance itself. Don’t worry if you experience a few days of oily or dry skin, it’s just re-balancing itself and will find an equilibrium.
So, here’s what you do:
1. Rinse the face with water in the morning (no cleansers) unless exercise is part of the morning routine, in which case cleanse the face straight after exercise
2. Wash with a cleanser once a day in the evening, after a day’s work and use of makeup. During the fast, use natural makeup remover only (e.g. 3/4 part distilled water mixed with 1/4 olive oil). Avoid using any makeup wipes or harsh removers.
3. Use a non-comedogenic, water-based sunscreen in the morning as recommended above.
4. Don’t wear makeup unless you have to and use non-comedogenic makeup only (Oxygenetix foundation is allowed here because it’s good for the skin)
5. Serums can be used during the fast in the morning before sunscreen and at night before bedtime. However, only use if it is definitely not causing irritation. If it might be, remove it from the routine and change your serum to a more suitable one. 
What next?
After three weeks you can start to introduce new products every three days. In this way you can really see how the skin reacts to each product. This might include anti-aging products, scrubs, masks; whatever might improve the skin. The skin should be in an optimum state to respond well to key ingredients in products. You can also identify any problem causing products which can be eliminated from your regime.
