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Why It’s Important to De-Stress for Your Skin 

Relaxed woman with good skin

Not all stress is bad stress. While most of us typically do all we can to avoid stress, at times, it can be a positive force. Short-term or acute stress can help heighten the senses and clear your thoughts. For a brief moment, the body’s collagen production also increases. However, it is when stress continues for an extended period that problems begin to arise.

Dealing with long-term stress can be an exhausting ideal. It can reshape your mindset and alter the way you approach your relationships. Chronic stress, when left unaddressed, takes a toll on the mind, the body, and the skin. This makes it important to take the time to de-stress for your skin. Stick with us at OROGOLD as we delve into this a little deeper.

How Stress Affects the Skin

Woman stressed

The brain and the skin are interconnected. Since birth, the psychological and physical aspects of our bodies have been intertwined. When the skin is touched, the brain helps perceive the sensation. Then, when the brain is stimulated, the skin flushes. When the mind is in distress, the skin shows it — sometimes in the form of breakouts, redness, eczema, or psoriasis flare-ups. 

On its own, the skin does a great job of protecting itself — even without the help of skincare. The skin’s natural barrier does most of the heavy lifting: keeping moisture locked in and keeping potential irritants out. However, when the stress hormone cortisol is produced in larger amounts than usual, it chips away at the skin barrier. This makes the skin more prone to irritation and hydration loss.

Besides this, cortisol also triggers the following effects:

  • An increase in sebum production, which gives the appearance of oilier and greasier skin
  • Stunted production of Hyaluronic Acid, which naturally occurs in the skin
  • Slower production of collagen, which leads to a less plump and youthful appearance

How to De-Stress for Your Skin

Knowing that chronic stress wreaks havoc both internally and externally, it is clear that exploring ways to effectively de-stress for your skin is necessary. This is especially true as the new year picks up, work begins to trickle in, and responsibilities are bound to come back in full force.

Here are a few methods to de-stress for your skin and for your health:

Remember: No is a Complete Sentence

It is extremely difficult to recover from stress when you are susceptible to it all the time. While we all want to be a reliable friend, a valuable colleague, or a hands-on boss, sometimes, the day-to-day duties that come with these roles can feel a little overwhelming. 

This year, remember the value of making yourself a priority. Take time to rest, to pursue hobbies, and to define self-care on your own terms — even if that means having to say no to certain things that are asked of you.

Me-Time: Kick Back with a Face Mask

OROGOLD face masks

Beyond addressing the root cause of your stress, there are a few other ways to effectively deal with mental strain or emotional pressure. One such method is carving out the time to sit back, relax, and put on a face mask every few days. 

While face masks are a great way to provide an extra boost to the skin, they also provide an avenue for rest and relaxation. They can simultaneously elevate a skincare routine with potent benefits to target specific skin concerns, while also simulating a spa-like break from reality.

At OROGOLD, we have a diverse range of face masks that can aid in your mission to de-stress for your skin and improve its look and feel:

The 24K Advanced Facial Mask

The 24K Advanced Facial Mask features a blend of three plant extracts:

  • Ivy Stem/Leaf
  • Aloe Vera
  • Betula Alba or Birch Bark

To use, take a small amount of the 24K Advanced Facial Mask and massage it into the skin. Use light pressure and move in slow circular motions. Let the product rest on the skin for ten minutes before rinsing off with cool water.

The 24K Termica Energizing Mask

Another mask to consider is Orogold’s unique 24K Tèrmica® Energizing Mask. Infused with a trio of ingredients — Vitamins A, C, and E — this mask minimizes the appearance of dark spots, combats the look of dullness, and smooths out the appearance of the skin.

Unlike run-of-the-mill wash-off masks, the 24K Tèrmica® Energizing Mask heats up when applied to the skin, making for a relaxing self-care experience. Every week, apply the mask onto cleansed skin in slow circular motions. Let the product rest on the skin for 10 minutes, letting it warm up the skin and relax your facial muscles. After ten minutes, rinse off the product with cool water.

The 24K Deep Tissue Rejuvenation Mask & Collagen Renewal Mask

If you aren’t one for wash-off masks, consider opting for a mess-free sheet mask like Orogold’s 24K Deep Tissue Rejuvenation Mask & Collagen Renewal Mask. While wash-off masks, which typically contain Bentonite or Kaolin, are typically a better choice for oily or acne-prone skin, sheet masks are a great option for all skin types. Soaked in an alcohol-free blend of Chitosan, Hyaluronic Acid, and Sea Algae Extracts, this mask delivers potent benefits. 

Each set comes with 14 full-face masks and 12 eye masks for days when your eye area needs a little additional care. To use, cleanse and tone the skin with your products of choice. Remove the full-face or eye mask from its packaging and securely apply it onto the face. Leave on for a few minutes before removing the gel mask. To maximize the product, carefully extract any remaining serum from the packaging and pat it into the skin.

Relax with LED Beauty Devices

OROGOLD Devices: Jelessi & Torche

Even before the worldwide pandemic changed the world as we knew it, at-home beauty devices were gaining mainstream popularity. Spa-grade DIY tools appealed to beauty junkies and skincare newbies alike because of their safety and convenience. 

Facial massagers, wands, and rollers are just a few of the beauty devices that can elevate your routine. However, among the various gadgets that are now widely available, one particular tool stands out for its diverse uses and effectiveness: the LED beauty device.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology did not start as a beauty innovation. Before being used to improve skin tone and texture, LED therapy was used in medicine. Some applications include NASA plant growth experiments that explored tissue repair and wound healing of Navy SEAL members.

Today, LED therapy is used in dermatology clinics, spas, and thousands of homes. Unlike other beauty devices, LED has several frequencies that can target specific skin concerns.

Choosing an LED Skincare Device

Use these frequencies together in one convenient tool: the Jelessi Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand. Mini but mighty, this convenient beauty tool targets the delicate eye area, which is prone to aging faster than the rest of the face.

With blue, red, and positive light technology to reduce the look of swelling and smooth the appearance of wrinkles, the Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand can also amplify the effects of your favorite eye creams. 

Another interesting feature of this tool is its jade stone center. A few years ago, jade rollers gained popularity because of the stone’s ability to detoxify and tighten the feel of the skin. The Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand highlights these benefits, surrounding the tool’s jade stone with a metal upper that can help cool or warm the skin.

To add the wand to your routine, prepare the skin by cleansing and patting dry with a towel. Next, decide which of Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand’s two modes you want to use:

  • For the Anti-Puffiness Mode, press the device’s “C” button. Slowly massage the eye area for five minutes. 
  • For the Anti-Aging Mode, press the “H” button. Let the metal head warm up. After one minute, apply your preferred serum or eye cream directly onto the device’s metal upper. Carefully massage the eye area for five to seven minutes.

See Skincare as a Self-Care Method

Woman using skincare to de-stress for your skin

From skincare diets to ten-step routines, it seems like we’ve seen every regimen possible. We are constantly fed beauty advice — which products to use, which ingredients are best, how many different acids we need — that it can feel overwhelming. The constant influx of information can make skincare feel like a chore.

Rather than sweating the small stuff, reframe the way you see skincare. Instead of a task, see it as a way to de-stress for your skin. Constantly reinventing and expanding your routine with steps will eventually have you disliking taking care of your skin. Remember, no regimen is perfect. The best skincare routine is one that is simple, effective, and that you can commit to long-term. 

Here at OROGOLD, we pride ourselves on developing skin solutions that feel great and deliver results. Each of our products harnesses the beneficial properties of gold and other tried-and-tested skincare ingredients. If you find yourself in need of a skincare reset, consider this straightforward regimen:

Reset Your Skincare Routine

Start with the 24K Mousse Cleanser. Rich yet lightweight, this cleanser lifts dirt, makeup, and excess sebum without stripping the skin of its moisture. It is also formulated with Willow Bark Extract.

Follow it up with a moisturizer like OROGOLD’s 24K Deep Moisturizer. Rich and non-greasy, this moisturizer is formulated to replenish the skin’s oils and lock in hydration. Behind the lush texture is a curated list of hand-picked, effective ingredients like:

  • Centella Asiatica Extract
  • White Tea Extract, taken from the buds and leaves of tea.
  • Hydrolyzed Soy Fiber
  • Vitamins C and E, a skincare power couple 

Lastly, finish off your skincare routine with a layer of protective sunscreen. The importance of SPF has been a hotly debated topic within the beauty community for the past few years, but with the statistics showing an incontestable rise in skin disease, the verdict is clear: applying sunscreen daily is a necessity. 

Keep your skin safe against UV damage with OROGOLD’s new 24K Skin Tone SPF 30. Despite its sheer, skin-like texture, this broad-spectrum sunscreen is formulated with five UV filters that defend the skin against both UVA and UVB rays. It is also formulated with Aloe Vera and Green Tea extracts.

When You Need it, Ask for Help

Two friends talking

One last way to de-stress for your skin is to turn to others for help. It may sound simple, but in the thick of our problems, we can often forget to open up and let ourselves be vulnerable. No man is an island — and even the strongest people have their low points.

This year, allow yourself to reach out when you need help — whether it be from family, a friend, or mental health professional. 

Which of these methods will you be employing to de-stress for your skin? Whether it’s protecting your boundaries or committing to a little extra me-time with your skincare, remember to prioritize yourself and your peace — this year and beyond.

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Could the Scandi Sleeping Method Give You Better Skin?

Couple sleeping

Ever heard of the Scandi sleeping method?

If you currently share your bed with your partner each night, this is something that you absolutely need to know about. Get ready to transform your beauty sleep – once you realize how the Scandi sleeping method could benefit your skin, chances are that you’ll soon be giving it a go for yourself!

What is the Scandi Sleeping Method?

Bed with two duvets

Simply put, it refers to one bed with two duvets.

This means sharing a bed with your partner, but each of you having individual duvets, rather than a shared one.

Those who relish physical intimacy are probably horrified by the idea, but don’t turn your back on it just yet…

Scandinavia is consistently ranked as the happiest place in the world, and Scandinavian couples who practice the Scandi sleeping method would definitely agree with this. Take a look online – you’ll find page after page of praise written about this sleeping style.

What’s so great about the Scandi sleeping method?

Read on…

The Benefits of the Scandi Sleeping Method

It is estimated that around 30% of people are not sleeping well enough at night. While stress may be the biggest factor contributing to this, partner disturbance is the second reason.

The Scandi sleeping method solves this problem. It enables you to continue sharing a bed with your partner (many partners do opt for separate beds after several years of disturbed sleep), while still being able to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Temperature Regulation

Ever woken up next to a partner who feels like a furnace?

Turns out that, due to their higher muscle mass, men tend to run hotter at night. This can make it difficult for the woman lying next to them to regulate her own body temperature.

The physical barrier provided by your own duvet will help to prevent your partner’s body temperature from affecting your sleep.

The Perfect Duvet

Chances are that you and your partner have different ideas as to what constitutes the perfect duvet.

Some prefer heavier weights while others sleep better with a light duvet. A compromise is usually the answer when it comes to a happy relationship, but this means that both of you will be suffering from poorer sleep quality.

The Scandi sleeping method means that you can each choose your own perfect duvet, without it affecting the other person.

Tug of War

The duvet tug of war is a complaint that many couples have. One wakes up in the middle of the night with just a tiny corner of duvet to cover their body, and the other is so wrapped up in it that it cannot be pulled back.

Separate duvets prevents this from happening. If you or your partner toss and turn in the middle of the night, the other won’t be so affected, giving you both a good night’s sleep.

Couple in bed and woman has no blanket

The Downsides of the Scandi Sleeping Method

There aren’t many downsides to the Scandi sleeping method, apart from the fact that it takes longer to make the bed each morning.

You’ll need to adapt to different folding techniques too. Many find that the double duvet technique can lead to the bed looking quite messy. The best way to counter this is by finding a throw to place over the top of your duvets during the day.

Wondering how the Scandi sleeping method would affect intimacy?

You’re probably concerned that you and your partner won’t be able to snuggle in the same way that you used to.

Don’t worry, there are ways around this…

For starters, the separate duvets are only for sleeping. If the two of you are lying in bed watching a movie, then by all means share a duvet. Once it’s time to go to sleep, you can go back to using individual duvets.

Alternatively, drape your two duvets so that the middles overlap. This makes for easy snuggles under the blankets!

Now, you’re probably wondering…

It sounds intriguing, but what does the Scandi sleeping method have to do with my skin?

You’re about to find out…

The Importance of Beauty Sleep

Woman sleeping

Ever wondered what your skin does while you sleep at night?

No, it doesn’t snooze along with you. Instead, your skin is hard at work producing collagen, maintaining hydration, fighting inflammation, and so much more.

Sleep and Wrinkles

Wrinkles are something that most would be happy to never experience, but, unfortunately, they’re an inevitable part of life.

Your skin contains a protein called collagen. It’s collagen’s job to keep your skin firm and smooth, with the protein fibers running underneath your skin to hold it up. Sadly, collagen degrades and breaks down with age, leaving the skin loose and wrinkled.

Your body continues to produce collagen, but not at a fast enough rate. However, there are several things that you can do to increase natural collagen production, one of which is making sure that you’re sleeping well at night.

Your skin produces new collagen while you’re sleeping, and only when you’re in the deeper stages of sleep. This means that poor sleep leads to no collagen being produced, which only worsens those visible signs of aging.

Sleep and Dull Skin

Many have become so accustomed to their dull and lacklustre complexion that it has become the norm to turn to makeup each morning to help illuminate their face.

Well, if you’re someone who hasn’t been getting quality sleep each night, then this is something that you could easily transform.

While you sleep at night, your body speeds up blood flow to the skin. Your blood is what carries oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. Increased blood flow means healthier skin that glows from within.

On the other hand, poor quality sleep actually leads to a decrease in blood flow to the skin. This gives the skin a dull and tired appearance, with a noticeable lack of radiance.

Sleep and Puffy Eyes

Ever wake up from a night of poor sleep to find puffy, circled eyes staring back at you from the mirror?

This is common. Although there are several factors that can contribute to puffiness and dark circles around the eyes, poor quality sleep is the biggest one. It causes the blood vessels around your eyes to expand, which gives the area a puffy and darker appearance.

The best way to deal with this?

Improve your quality of sleep. If you know that your sleep interruptions are caused by your partner lying next to you, then the Scandi sleeping method is definitely worth a try!

While you’re working on convincing your other half that the Scandi sleeping method could be great for the two of you, invest in a solid eye cream to keep the appearance of puffiness at bay.

Other Ways to Sleep Better at Night

Already practice the Scandi sleeping method but need more help improving your sleep quality? Or maybe you’re ready to give the Scandi sleeping method a try, but want to boost your sleep in other ways too.

Either way, here are a few proven tricks and techniques for getting a better night’s sleep:

Avoid Electronics 30 Minutes Before Bedtime

Woman reading book at night

Some will say 30 minutes, others will say a couple of hours. Either way, the general gist is to stay away from your electronic devices a while before heading to bed.

Why?

Because the blue light emitted by electronic devices triggers the body to stay awake. This makes it much harder to fall asleep, especially into a deep sleep, meaning that your skin ends up suffering.

Plus, whatever you may be looking at on your phone or laptop is probably also stimulating your brain. This is the opposite of what you want before bed – find an activity that calms your brain and helps you to unwind.

Establish a Relaxing Night Time Skin Care Routine

A relaxing skin care routine before bed will leave your skin feeling nourished, hydrated, and loved. You’ll feel so much better falling back against those pillows, and you also won’t have to deal with any skin irritations through the night.

Looking for a new night cream?

Try the OROGOLD 24K Multi Vitamin Night Nourishment + Retinol. This lush formula glides onto the skin so beautifully. It’s packed with vitamins and botanical extracts, and is designed to combat the appearance of aging.

Make Your Bedroom as Dark as Possible

You may think that your bedroom is dark, but chances are that there’s still some light filtering through. Whether this may come from that extension lead tucked away behind your bed, a slither of light through your windows, or a glare under your door from another room in your house, that light isn’t doing your sleep quality any favors.

Make an effort to eliminate any sources of light from your bedroom, so that it can be as dark as possible when you sleep. Black-out curtains are great for this if you have problems with light seeping in through your windows.

Keep Your Bedroom at a Comfortable Temperature

Did you know that the optimum temperature to keep your bedroom at is between 60-71 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15.6-22 degrees Celsius?

This may seem a little on the cool side, but experts agree that too much heat can interfere with good sleep. Those temperatures have proven to be extremely beneficial in helping a person to fall asleep while also maintaining good sleep quality, making this a trick well worth a try.

Keep Things Quiet

White noise machine next to bed

Noise is one of the worst culprits when it comes to interrupted sleep. This is something that can also end up affecting your overall health.

You’re probably thinking…

If I’m not able to control the noise, then surely there’s nothing I can do about this?

Not true at all!

This is where a white noise machine can be so useful. It works so well at drowning out external noises, giving you a better night’s sleep. Alternatively, try playing your own soothing tunes from some speakers or headphones, or opt for a pair of old fashioned ear blockers.

Fill Your Bedroom with Soothing Scents

The nose is a sense that many often neglect, but treat it right and it could start to help you to sleep better at night.

There are certain scents out there that are known for promoting relaxation, while others help to make a room feel more comfortable and inviting.

All of this is definitely what you want in your bedroom!

There are several different ways to incorporate aromatherapy into your bedroom, from essential oil diffusers to scented candles. Either way, the scents that you want to be sniffing more of include:

Sip on a Sleep-Promoting Herbal Tea

In addition to breathing in some of those beautiful scents mentioned above, you could also try drinking them too.

There are certain herbs out there that are revered for their sleep-inducing properties. Whether you purchase them dried and brew your own or opt for ready-made tea bags, some of the sleep-promoting herbal teas that you want to be drinking more of include:

  • Chamomile
  • Lemon balm
  • Lavender
  • Passionflower
  • Valerian root

Not only will the herbs in your tea encourage your body to fall asleep faster, but each one also has its own skin-enhancing benefits. Not only that, but that extra water that you will be drinking before bed will go a long way in keeping your skin hydrated while it’s busy working hard at night, meaning that you wake up with plumper and softer skin.

For those who have never heard of it before, the Scandi sleeping method may seem a little crazy. After all, isn’t it more traditional to share a duvet with your partner?

That may be the case, but traditions aren’t always the best way forward. Just about everyone who has given the Scandi sleeping method a try ends up raving about it. Benefits aren’t just seen in their physical and mental health, but also in their appearance too. If you know that you aren’t sleeping as well as you should be each night, you’ve got nothing to lose by giving the Scandi sleeping method a try, if only for a short while!