Beach days, Christmas, summer barbies, and test match after test match; summer in Australia sure is debatably one of the best times of the year. However, while the hot weather makes for endless days of fun in the sun, the summer climate and festivities can be harsh on our skin. Airconditioning, excess sun exposure, chlorinated pools and salt water are very dehydrating to the skin, which results in dryness, redness, irritation and overall skin damage. Lollies, sweets, changes in our diet, an increase in alcohol consumption, as well as, the increased stress over the Christmas period, can also wreak havoc on our skin, causing breakouts, redness and inflammation. But before you hop on the next boat to Antarctica, don’t despair, there are plenty of simple tips and tricks that can help keep us flawless all summer long.      

The way our skin looks can be a major confidence killer. In our younger years we seem to take our skin for granted as premature aging creeps up on us. One day we’re feeling gorgeous and living life with hydrated, plump skin and that golden tanned glow, and before we know it, our face is starting to look more like the Grand Canyon, with more cracks and crevasses and strange brown patches then we ever thought possible. While it may be tempting to book in to peel your whole face off to start again, or to book for a one-off laser rejuvenation session, long-term results require more than just a one-off treatment. When thinking about skin treatments we have to remember the five keys to success otherwise known as the five P’s: Patience, Persistence, Products, Prevention and Professionals: 

​If you take a look on the back of any of your Ultraceuticals products and you’re likely to see Panthenol or vitamin B5 sitting proudly in the ingredient list. With its hydrating properties, it’s no wonder this ingredient has become so well loved in the skincare industry. However, Panthenol is more than a one trick pony. Not only does it act as a moisturising humectant, but it also provides many other skin benefits, such as, helping to decrease inflammation, supporting wound healing, as well as providing benefits to the hair and nails just to name a few.    

Hype about free radicals and antioxidants has been at the forefront of the skincare industry for years, popping up everywhere from supermarket shelves, to skincare salons and everywhere in between.  They’re some of the most popular buzzwords to be thrown around in this rapidly evolving industry and understanding what they are and how to incorporate them into your skincare routine can be a game changer in the fight against premature aging.  

While skincare products and topical treatments do wonders for the health and condition of our skin from the outside in, research suggests that in order to maximise our skin health, we should also be aware of what’s going on with our body on the inside. Collective evidence has shown that there is an intimate connection between the health of our gut and the health of our skin. Gastrointestinal disorders are often accompanied by skin conditions such as breakouts, dryness, redness, sensitivity and inflammation. In particular, studies have shown that the gastrointestinal system – specifically the gut microbiome, appears to contribute to the exacerbation of many inflammatory skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.