Self-care and even more specifically, skincare has really become a focus for many of us during the pandemic as we are motivated to make our health (mental and physical) a priority. However, did you know that you might be making some mistakes during your a.m. or p.m. routine–this is pretty common! But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
#AOGlow Beauty Bulletin
10 Common Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making! 😱
TOP 10 Skincare Mistakes:
1. Substituting sunscreen with SPF makeup.
If your makeup has SPF value, consider it an added benefit, not a replacement for the real thing. Dr Leslie Baumann (a dermatologist) says you would need to wear 7x the normal amount of foundation and 14x the normal amount of powder to experience the same effects of applying sunscreen–totally not realistic!
#AOGlow Tip✨: Apply our Liquid Reef-Safe Sunscreen to your face (and body, course!) anytime your skin is exposed to sunlight.
2. Washing your face too much.
You don’t need to keep washing your face all the time! You’ll see less breakouts when you’re not continuously washing your face. While cleaning your face is important, the oils in your face get removed when it is subject to constant washing, causing the skin to overcompensate and overproduce oils.
#AOGlow Tip✨: Wash your face with our ʻŌlena + Honey Foaming Cleanser 2x a day.
3. Not moisturizing oily skin.
People with oily skin think they don’t need to apply moisturizer, and that it's only applicable to people with dry skin. Even for people with an oily skin type, skin gets dehydrated from being exposed to the sun or the air-conditioner for too long, constant sweating, or even constant washing!
#AOGlow Tip✨: Apply our Ili Hydration Moisturizer, in the morning and night.
4. Exfoliating too much or too little.
When skin is scrubbed too hard and too often, you strip it of its natural oil barrier, and it may appear red and raw, plus feel a little too tight. If you’re not exfoliating regularly, you make your skin susceptible to acne and clogged pores. The frequency of exfoliation should depend on your skin type–2x a week for sensitive skin and 4x a week for tough skin.
#AOGlow Tip✨: Exfoliate your skin with our Green Goddess Cleanser, 3-4x a week.
5. Avoiding your daily coffee.
Are you on a caffeine detox? It actually may be affecting your skin! Quitting cold-turkey is not necessary (you’re probably sighing with relief!). In fact, the antioxidants in coffee may help to fight premature aging which arises from free radicals. Coffee in moderation is still recommended :)
#AOGlow Tip✨: Can’t get enough coffee? Try our Awakening Eye Espresso in the morning to start your day!
6. Not applying skincare products before going to sleep.
After wearing makeup all day, you might feel like going bare for the night. However, your skin will restore itself better if you apply your products not just in the a.m., but p.m. as well. The active ingredients in the products neutralize the negative effect of cosmetics and refresh your face.
#AOGlow Tip✨: Apply our Ili Alohi Serum before bed. Cleanse and tone before applying serum, then follow with our moisturizer.
7.Taking extra hot showers.
A hot bath feels amazing after a long day; however, hot water disturbs your skin’s natural balance and strips it of its oily barriers–causing the skin to overproduce oils to make up for the loss. In addition, the harsh chemicals in your soap harms skin as well. Opt for lukewarm water, a fragrance-free soap, plus be sure to moisturize after your shower!
8. Using the same pillow case for two weeks (or more!).
Even if you wash your hair and thoroughly cleanse your face every evening before going to sleep, your pillowcase stores dust, particles of epithelium and hair (yours and/or your pet’s!). After two to three days, your pillow has the perfect conditions to produce blemishes on your face. Major key–changing your pillowcase once every two days. Even try replacing yours with silk pillowcases–they can protect your face from rashes as well as premature wrinkling.
9. Refusing to use makeup removers.
Do you get lazy and wash off your makeup with just one cleanser or even worse, water only. Although you might be saving on time, you’re leaving makeup particles on your face that can cause your pores to clog, and lead to acne or an increase in the skin’s oil content. That’s why using a form of a makeup remover before cleansing is a must!
#AOGlow Tip✨: Use our Get Naked Makeup Remover before cleansing and toning in the evening.
10. Not using toner.
Toner restores the pH balance of the skin and prepares it for your skincare routine steps. It’s also necessary after harsh procedures like chemical peels. By using a toner, you’ll avoid skin concerns such as dryness, irritation, and rashes!
#AOGlow Tip✨: Apply our Hibiscus Mist Facial Toner or Rose Water Toner morning and evening.
Were you making any of these mistakes? We hope our tips helped! If you have any skincare questions or concerns, DM us on Instagram or leave a comment below!
Xx,
The AO Organics Hawai‘i ‘ohana
Trade, Don't Trash!
In less than a year, Hawai‘i will be the first state in the country to ban the sale of sunscreens formulated with oxybenzone and octinoxate–two of the most detrimental chemicals that harm our reefs (and even our bodies!).
What is Oxybenzone?
Oxybenzone, in particular, is one of the most common ingredients and can be found in over 3,500 commercial brands of sunscreen. This chemical badly alters coral DNA, making the coral more susceptible to fatal bleaching. It also acts as an endocrine disruptor, causing baby coral to encase itself in its own skeleton and ultimately die.
Although the law doesn’t go into effect until January 1, 2021, we want to help you make your transition from chemical sunscreens to reef-safe sunscreens NOW with our new Trade, Don’t Trash program! If the sunscreen is mineral-based, containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients, you’re safe. However, if your sunscreen lists oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and/or nanoparticles as active ingredients, you should avoid them. Even if you don’t go into the ocean, these ingredients may wash off in the shower or pass through the sewage systems (via our urine), and could eventually end up in the sea!
Disclaimer: Many commercial sunscreens claim to be “reef-friendly” or “reef-safe” but are NOT! Be sure to always review the active ingredients to be sure!
Here’s how our program works:
- Mail us your used or unused chemical sunscreens to
Ao Organics Hawaii
PO Box 954
Honoka‘a, HI 96727
- We will give you 50% off our Ao Organics Hawaii reef-safe sunscreen (we’ll send you a code via email!)
- We will send your chemical sunscreens to the Kohala Center where they will safely dispose of the sunscreens so they won’t harm our oceans.
Why Ao Organics Sunscreen?
- It’s organic, reef-safe and eco-friendly all while protecting your skin from harsh UVA & UVB rays.
- Goes on silky smooth, is safe for the most sensitive skin, plus it's great for our youngest family members too.
- Features Hawaiian Beeswax, which gives your skin water-resistant protection–perfect for all adventures under the sun!
- Most importantly, our sunscreen is chemical-free and has no hormone disruptors, so you can feel good about using it on yourself and your little ones.
More about the Kohala Center:
The Kohala Center is working in partnership with the County of Hawai‘i to dispose of chemical-based sunscreens in an environmentally friendly manner, keeping them out of landfills and from potentially entering waterways. You can also simply drop off your chemical-based sunscreens at one of their Hawai‘i Island locations. See their website for more information.
Combatting Maskne (Mask-Acne)
Wear a mask! This you already know–but do you know how often you should be washing your mask or even how to safely wash it to prevent getting “maskne” or mask-acne? Sometimes tossing your used masks in the washer may be counterproductive for your skin as certain detergents may irritate it. However, we have the perfect solution to address this new skin issue some of us may be “face”-ing!
Meet Chelsa Davis, Ao Organics Hawaii Founder & Formulator
Aloha everyone, welcome to Ao Organics Hawaii’s new website–we’re so excited to have recently launched our refreshed site, including the addition of our blog, #AOGlow Beauty Bulletin. In our first post, we are highlighting our founder and formulator Chelsa Davis with a fun Q&A. Take a moment to learn about the #AOGlow face behind our natural skincare brand!
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background! (where you’re from, family etc.?)
A: I was born in Kailua, Oahu, but grew up on Maui and the Big Island. I had my oldest son at the age of 19–becoming a young mother was one of my greatest and most rewarding experiences. I was eager to educate myself and become someone he could look up to.
Q: How did you start Ao Organics Hawaii?
A: Ao Organics started when I was pregnant with my third keiki. I have always been conscious about the ingredients in our food, but then began looking deeper into the household products we were using and the ingredients in them. One of the main products we were always using was sunscreen, but I couldn't believe all the toxic ingredients that were in them. That's when I started my research to find out what ingredients were safe while protecting our skin, and understand the toxic effects that these chemicals had on our bodies, plus our environment. I tried to search for locally sourced, trusted and organic sunscreens that would be safe for my family...there were none. That's when I decided to make it myself, and after a lot more research (trial and error of figuring out how to make it!) I finally found the consistency I loved. I shared the sunscreen with family and friends, who after using it shared how much they loved it. So many people told me they had no idea about the damage it was doing not just to our bodies, but to our coral reefs. That was when Ao Organics Hawaii was born! I wanted to 1) create products that were safe for our families and 2) educate people on the (toxic) ingredients that are in our everyday products and lives.
Q: How do you pronounce the name of your brand and what is the story behind it?
A: The correct pronunciation for ao is “ah-oh,” and in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, it translates to world, earth or realm. When I decided to start my business and create these natural products, everything I created was to be just that–from ao, from our earth. I wanted products safe for your skin, keiki, ohana, and of course, our ao.
Q: What are your top five favorite products?
A: Such a hard question, haha! I literally love and use every single product almost daily.
- Get Naked Makeup Remover; I will never remove my makeup with coconut oil again (haha)
- ‘Ōlena + Honey Foaming Cleanser; my skin has never been clearer since using this cleanser
- Ili Hydration Moisturizer; I have oily skin and never thought I needed a moisturizer, until I realized what my skin was missing! It was this moisturizer.
- Ili Alohi Serum because when hormonal acne shows up, this serum magically erases any scars or damage that was done.
- AO Tanning Oil for my golden glow!
Q: What is the mission of your brand?
A: My mission has always been to educate and empower others to know what kind of products they are using on their skin–not just the health impacts, but also the environmental impacts they may have on our ocean and land. We formulate high-quality skincare products with ethically sourced ingredients that will treat women’s skin issues and won’t break the bank while achieving healthy glowing skin.
Q: What is your favorite beach and what can we find in your beach bag?
A: My favorite beach is right next to my hometown, Waipio Valley. My must-haves in my beach bag are: Liquid Sunscreen, Golden Hour Tanning Oil, & a bottle of some After Sun Spray (perfect refresher when it starts to get really hot)
Q: Morning skincare routine?
A: My morning routine is simple and quick because my mornings are always busy with getting my kids ready for the day.
- I simply cleanse with ‘Olena + Honey Foaming Cleanser
- Tone my skin with the Hibiscus Facial Toner and apply Ili Hydration Moisturizer
- I can’t start my day without applying Awakening Eye Espresso Serum under my eyes to depuff and help lighten any dark circles.
Q: Nighttime skincare routine?
A: My evening routine is a little longer, but Ilove to think of it as my self care ritual where i get to unwind from the day and have some time for myself.
- I always start by removing any makeup (which is usually only mascara)–the Get Naked Makeup remover melts it away like a boss.
- Cleanse with ‘Olena + Honey Foaming Cleanser
- Tone with Hibiscus Facial Toner (preps skin for serums and moisturizer)
- Spot treat any scars with Ili Alohi Serum (allow it to soak in)
- Apply moisturizer, the Ili Hydration Moisturizer.
- Then time for my Lash Queen serum for my lashes and brows.
Q: More than ever, self care is so important. What are small ways that we can indulge in moments of self care?
A: It really is so, so important to find time for ourselves, to give a little more time and love that we so freely give to others. A small way I like to indulge in self care is to simply apply a face mask while getting ready to shower or even take a hot bubble bath with my Green Goddess Mask on!
Xx,
The Ao Organics Hawai‘i ‘ohana
