Skin, Hair & Body Profile – Seanna

For those of you who do not match Lina’s profile from last week, perhaps you can find some common ground when it comes to my fair, sensitive skin and the products I use to care for it.

• Face- Dry, sensitive skin with occasional breakouts. My skin is a token of my Scottish/British heritage. I have a fair complexion, with slightly pink undertones and I am prone to burning and freckles. Because my skin craves moisture, I have a slight obsession with things like oils, steam rooms… even foggy days! I still get occasional breakouts and clogged pores – usually on my nose and chin – despite my skin’s tendency to be dry. I am quite sensitive to certain products, most often those that are chemically derived, yet I require plenty of moisture and sunscreen in my skincare routine. Keeping my skin moisturized not only protects and nourishes, but also keeps acne breakouts at bay. I typically use an aloe-based cleanser, gentle exfoliant, rose water toner, facial oil, moisturizer, and of course a mineral sun block (all year round). This is an extensive approach yet mandatory for keeping my skin hydrated and free of acne, sun damage, and premature aging (all things to which*sigh* my skin type is prone).

• Hair –Straight and fine. My hair is easy to manage; dries straight and smooth. It lacks volume however, and gets oily quickly because of its fine texture. I have found that the best way to manage this is to wash my hair every two to three days allowing the natural oils to rebalance. I use an all natural shampoo and a light conditioner since my fine strands do not require heavy moisturizing. When my hair and scalp do get a bit dry, particularly in the winter, I remedy it by massaging warm rosemary- mint infused sweet almond oil into my scalp and ends for a deep conditioning treatment.

• Body- Dry skin prone to eczema. I struggled constantly for many years with dry itchy skin, particularly on my legs. Come winter time, no matter how much I moisturized the itch and flaky skin would persist. That is, until I stopped using petroleum based moisturizers and washing with soap (or body wash) everyday. Just like my scalp and rebalancing its oil production, I realized that washing with soap (particularly harsh synthetic ones) were stripping my skin of all its natural oils. Now, I dry brush everyday and only wash the necessities with castile soap. I follow up by slathering coconut oil or almond oil onto by skin and using my homemade whipped body butter. I am a long distance runner and so keeping my skin hydrated and protected can be tough when exposed to the elements for long periods of time. Summer is particularly challenging with constant sun exposure so I use a mineral sun block that is perfect for my sensitive skin, yet is still sweat resistant and does not clog pores.

In summary, I struggle with sensitive skin and fine hair, focusing on natural solutions as much as possible. Both Lina and I will continue to profile our unique needs, and share collaborative successes in our ongoing quest for clean beauty. Stay tuned!

– Seanna