Mad Hippie began as a line for surfers who constantly battle sun-damaged skin, so they know a thing or two about restoring lost moisture and protecting the skin. Here are their tips.
First tip: Create the perfect environment for healthy, glowing skin by ensuring that your skin has the right pH. Have you ever heard of the acid mantle?
If not, you are not alone, but learning about the acid mantle, and ways in which you can support a healthy acid mantle, can greatly improve your skin’s ability to stay hydrated.
The acid mantle is a thin, slightly acidic, oily layer on the surface of the skin created by the sebaceous glands. It acts as a protective barrier to stop the proliferation of bacteria and prevent pathogens that are not well suited to the acidic environment, from entering the skin.
To protect this natural defence system, it is important to use cleansers that are non-alkaline and will not strip the skin of natural oils. Ensuring that you are using warm, not hot, water will further preserve the acid mantle.
Next, to further help skin recuperate, we recommend topping off your daily routine with facial oil. Your glowing skin will thank you for choosing a skin-balancing oil like Argan oil or pomegranate seed oil, both of which balance oil production and are great for all skin types.
In addition to locking in moisture, oils can increase the rate at which active ingredients are carried into deeper layers of the skin, making them a great option for use over your favourite serums or even over a light moisturizer.
Some of our favourite oils are those that are high in antioxidants and provide protection from harmful free radical damage. Pomegranate seed oil is a great option for sun-damaged skin as it contains high levels of punicic acid, a powerful anti-inflammatory with anti-carcinogenic qualities that reduce free radical damage.
Lastly, don’t stop using your SPF in cloudy weather. Research from the Skin Cancer Foundation shows that up to 80% of UV light passes through clouds meaning that just because cooler temperatures have arrived, it doesn’t mean that you can put away your SPF for the season.
We recommend a zinc-only SPF to keep your skin safe from UV damage year-round. Zinc is a mineral that physically blocks UV light from entering the skin and is a safe alternative to chemical UV absorbers that are associated with a variety of health concerns.
The folks at Mad Hippie are passionate about skincare and using only safe, quality ingredients – putting in only the good stuff and none of the bad. They also take their responsibility to the planet seriously and are constantly striving to reduce their footprint, from BPA-free, fully recyclable airless pumps to running their entire facility off alternative energy.
