Skin Deep

By Anne Marie Scanlon

Even if you cleanse tone and moisturize twice daily there are times that you just don't feel really clean. Small wonder given the environment we live in - smoke, smog, dust, dirt - its horrendous what your skin is exposed to on a daily basis.

Sometimes the only way to feel like you've really cleaned up is by exfoliating or using a face mask. Apart from getting your face clean they'll help revitalize tired and dull skin.

Be careful about using a facial scrub if you are experiencing acne or a breakout. Scrubbing might seem like the best way to shift the spots but it will only exacerbate the situation. Treat the spots first, then think about exfoliation.

If you have issues with spots, blemishes and breakouts check out the new Hot Pore™ Cleansing Scrub ($15) which as the name implies heats on contact and opens pores allowing for a deeper clean. Hot Pore™ Cleansing Scrub contains active charcoal a powdery substance which soaks up oil and other impurities along with jojoba buffing beads, retinol, salicylic acid, tea tree oil and zinc. Because the scrub warms and opens the pores the active ingredients get a better chance to work on your skin - and it feels nice too! You can use the scrub on its own or combine it with Collective Wellbeing Change for the Better Medicated Acne Treatment Kit ($30) which fights blemishes by tightening and minimizing pores.

Sonya Dakar's Mud Lavender Mask ($67) is an oil-absorbing and skin refining treatment for acne prone skin. You apply the mask for 10-15 minutes up to three times per week. The mask absorbs excess sebum and impurities both of which clog pores and we all know where clogged pores lead. The mask also helps to shrink pore size for less future clogs and breakouts. Ingredients include Dead Sea Mud which contains purifying minerals, calcium, potassium (which balances skin moisture) and magnesium which helps slow the skin's aging process; Sulfur, known for helping to eliminate acne, protecting cells from pollution and regenerating skin. Sulfur is a component of collagen - the thing that keeps skin supple and young-looking. Lavender Extract is another ingredient and provides antiseptic qualities, combats oil, soothes and calms irritation.

Whatever your skin issue Sonya Dakar have a mask for it. The Green Tea Mask ($67.00) also helps absorb sebum and other pore-blocking impurities while improving the skin's overall texture. As it shrinks pores it also soothes, smoothes and reduces redness. Ingredients include Green Tea Chlorophyll which is anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory; Peppermint to promote speedy healing and stimulate circulation and UGL Complex™ with AFET™. The latter ingredient is derived from marine and yeast sources which improves collagen synthesis, skin clarity, elasticity and firmness without irritation. It also has anti-aging properties.

Sonya Dakar Berry Mask ($67) is for normal to combination skin and helps heal damaged capillaries and hydrate skin. The Berry Mask will leave skin feeling balanced, moisturized and restores important vitamins and minerals. Ingredients include Green Tea Extract, Chinese Kaolin Clay a calming, cooling purifying agent that kills bacteria; Chamomile Extract which heals the redness of broken capillaries and reduces inflammation; Berry Extract an anti-oxidant that aids in collagen production and neutralizes pollutants and Vaso Constricting Zinc another anti-inflammatory that heals and purifies. The Blue Mask ($67) from Sonya Dakar cools and soothes dry, chapped and sensitive skin and is especially good in winter weather or dry climates. Ingredients include Bacopa monniera (Water Hyssop) which helps reliever and prevent irritation; Marine Extract to reduce redness, detoxify skin, boost immunity and strengthen calcium dependant proteins in the skin and Blue Azulene a deep blue crystalline substance known for its relaxing soothing properties. Finally Sonya Dakar Enzyme Peeling Cream ($85) is an ultra-gentle peeling treatment to gently exfoliate the skin. This product works extremely quickly to leave skin glowing, free of surface debris. Pumpkin Enzymes exfoliate dead skin cells, smooth skin and heal while promoting circulation. Cardamon Extract works as an antiseptic, astringent and anti-inflammatory.

The Dermalogica Skin Refining Mask ($32.50) contains oil-absorbing Kaolin, Bentonite Clay and Zinc Oxide which work together to remove impurities from the skin and reduce oily skin and associated breakouts. Mallow, Arnica and Cucumber reduce inflammation while Watercress, Lemon and Ivy revive dull skin.

Dermalogica have a couple of other products that will make your skin feel really, really clean. Dermalogica Precleanse ($32.00) is plant-based cleansing oil which contains Olive and Kukui oils which melts the layers of excess sebum and any residual products left on your skin - sunscreen, waterproof makeup and all the nasty gunk from the atmosphere that builds up throughout the day. Using Precleanse will allow your cleanser to penetrate skin further than usual and give you a far better clean. The formula contains Vitamin E Oil an antioxidant and improves skin softness and smoothness while a triglyceride that I can't pronounce let alone write is an emulsifying agent, activated by water that helps release the oils from the skins surface.

Dermalogica also have a Daily Resurfacer ($65.00) which is a three-in-one treatment that smoothes skin, resurfaces and helps reduce the signs of premature aging all without causing irritation or redness. Hydroxy acids gently dissolve dead skin cells and stimulate cell renewal while South African Rooibos Extract and Green Tea Extract combine to work as an antioxidant and sooth skin. The Daily Resurfacer helps skin tone and balance pigmentation utilizing Japanese Unshiu Citrus Peel which helps control melanin production and naturally brightens skin. The Daily Resurfacer comes in individual sachets with enough to use on face, neck and décolleté.

MAC also has a product to remove dead skin and debris. The Microfine Refinisher ($26.50) is a cream-based scrub which contains microfine crystals (same as those used in professional dermabrasion) but is gentle enough to use on a daily basis.