strong skin Archives • SOFIA LATIF®

Sofia 27/05/2022 Healthy Living

Our Five Tips For Summer Wellbeing

Many of us are hoping to go on a holiday abroad this year – a week, maybe two, to enjoy the warmer weather before it’s time to start putting on those layers, getting out those deeply nourishing products and cooking up those toasty, comforting meals. More of us are opting for short staycations; heading away from the city …

Sofia 13/05/2022 Inflammation series

Inflammation And Its Impact On Skin

Inflammation is something we hear about all the time, and how it can have a negative impact on our health if not managed correctly. In today’s post we talk about what it is and how to support your body in managing it and reducing it. Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to foreign bodies or …

Fozia Latif 20/04/2022 Healthy skin

Face Masks vs Exfoliators – The Superhero Skin Winner

Face masks and exfoliators can be valuable elements of any skin care routine. However, there’s often some confusion about which is more beneficial for skin health. While exfoliators brush away dead skin cells to reveal the healthy, new skin underneath, face masks are all about infusing the skin with nourishing ingredients to boost your best skin health. For …

Sofia 08/04/2022 Healthy Living

Healthy Skin Regeneration – When, Why, How

As we all know, there are different stages of sleep and getting enough of it is so important for how we look and feel the next day. Ever noticed that after a good night’s sleep, you feel better in yourself, re-energised and even have brighter looking skin? That’s because during deep sleep, our bodies go into …

Fozia Latif 03/03/2022 Sofia's blog

Solutions For Sensitised Skin

Sensitised skin is a common skincare challenge that is the result of skin which has been overstimulated by the use of too many or harsh topical products. This is as opposed to sensitive skin, which is the result of genetics, age and thin skin. Whether it relates to redness, rashes or a change in texture, most women across all age&…

Sofia 20/01/2022 Hero Oils

Nourish and protect with Marula seed oil

When it comes to multi-tasking, Marula seed oil is one skincare saviour that comes out on top. With nourishing, hydrating, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, this hero oil can help to prevent conditions like acne and seal in moisture for supple skin all day long. What is it? Marula seed oil is a pale yellow oil, naturally derived from the nuts&…

Fozia Latif 07/01/2022 Healthy skin

What is Skinimalism?

On the surface, ‘skinimalism’ might seem a tongue-twister, but as complex as it sounds, its meaning is, in fact, rooted in simplicity. Coined by users on Pinterest, skinimalism is about stripping back your skincare, bringing your natural skin texture to the surface and embracing slow beauty that supports sustainable skincare and clean products to nourish your best skin …

Sofia 31/12/2021 Useful to know

Do you need a face oil, face serum, or both?

Understanding how skincare works empowers you to make an informed purchase, selecting products suited to your skin type/condition and getting the most out of them as part of your routine. Today we are exploring the difference between face oils and face serums, helping you to determine which you need and giving you expert advice on how to use them. …

Fozia Latif 02/12/2021 Healthy Living

Collagen Supplements – Are They Worth It?

In short, yes, if they’re taken in powdered form without the addition of unnecessary fillers. But the evidence isn’t clear-cut just yet. While many studies do show that collagen supplements do work, group test sizes have been small and it’s not exactly clear what’s the recommended daily amount. What is clear however, …

Sofia 25/11/2021 Healthy Living

Our Top Tips For Autumn / Winter Wellbeing

We prefer to group our seasons in two instead of the usual four – Spring/Summer when our weather is usually dry and sunny with warm to hot temperatures and then Autumn/Winter, when the weather changes to colder air, rain, wind, and even snow. There is a marked change from one seasonal group to the other which, for most …

Fozia Latif 18/11/2021 Hero Oils

Strengthen Your Skin Barrier With Organic Sweet Almond Oil

Organic sweet almond oil has been a celebrated hero ingredient at SL Towers, and across the skincare industry, for years. Used widely in India, sweet almond oil can help to soothe sensitive skin and was a memorable part of our founder Sofia’s skin care routine growing up. Packed with skin-loving vitamins and fatty acids and intensely hydrating, sweet …

Fozia Latif 09/09/2021 Healthy Living

The Benefits Of Massage For Your Wellbeing

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of going to a salon or spa and enjoying a massage, then you’re probably already reminiscing about the feel-good pressure and deep relaxation you felt during and after your treatment. Massage is one of the fastest and most effective ways of relieving tension in your muscles, but you don’…

Sofia 11/08/2021 Hero Oils

Soothe And Protect With Moringa Seed Oil

Moringa seed oil has made it into our hero oil series and our Face Oil and Scalp Oil as a nutrient-rich skin care ingredient, capable of soothing and protecting all skin types, including those suffering from eczema and psoriasis. Extracted from the Moringa Oleifera tree, found in the Himalayan mountains, Moringa seed oil has been praised as a wonder oil&…

Sofia 25/06/2021 Healthy skin

Should You Change Your Skincare In The Summer?

This summer’s schizophrenia has us all searching for ways we can feel cooler and lighter one minute and wrapping up warm the next. When it comes to the warmer weather, we change what we consume – eating something lighter and drinking something more refreshing and hydrating, so why not apply this approach to our skincare in the summer …

Fozia Latif 03/06/2021 Healthy skin

Your Skincare Routine – A Chance To Mindfully Unwind

At the end of a busy day, a little self-care can go a long way to restoring your energy and lifting your mood, so you can better take care of yourself and others. Just as you might cook a meal or go for a run to give yourself space to slow down, your skincare routine is another opportunity to unwind&…

Sofia 16/04/2021 Healthy Living

Morning Routines That Make Your Day

We’ve likely established a morning routine this past year that works for our unique needs, and now we are coming out of lockdown retaining the routine we have created feels even more important as we return to a new normal. There is lots of advice from people who set their alarm clock to start their day at 5…

Sofia 16/04/2021 Useful to know

The minimal skincare routine you can get away with

As more of us are embracing slow living and self care in favour of our old hectic lifestyles, similar trends have become more prevalent with our skincare choices. It seems that as women, we’re no longer just looking to simplify our beauty regime because we’re so short of time, but rather we’re thinking more …

Sofia 05/03/2021 Healthy skin

How plant oils strengthen the skin barrier – Part Two

In part one we looked at what the skin barrier does, how it works and introduced the role of plant oils in strengthening it. But which plant oils are particularly important for supporting normal skin function? We’ll be sharing some of the most effective ones in today’s post… 5 OF THE BEST PLANT OILS FOR …

Sofia 05/03/2021 Healthy skin

How plant oils strengthen the skin barrier – Part one

The skin barrier has such an important role in maintaining happy and healthy skin but how can we care for it for optimum strength? In this two part series we’ll be exploring both aspects, with a particular focus on our favourite ingredients – plant oils… WHAT IS THE SKIN BARRIER? The skin has three main …

Sofia 18/02/2021 Healthy skin

The Skin Microbiome – What Is It And How To Support It?

Maintaining healthy bacteria in our gut, also called our microbiome, has become the norm helping to support our overall health. Skin microbiome is becoming increasingly important in maintaining healthy and balanced skin. But what is the skin microbiome and what can we do to support it? WHAT IS THE SKIN MICROBIOME? The skin is the largest organ your&…

Sofia 12/02/2021 Healthy skin

Understanding Acids in Skincare – AHAs and BHAs

Are you confused by acids, how to use them and what to look out for? It is important to exfoliate skin and acids are one way to introduce exfoliators into your routine. Not everybody’s skin can tolerate acid – particularly those with extremely dry or sensitive skin – and some like our Founder can’t use …

Sofia 20/01/2021 Inflammation series

Antioxidants And Our Skin

Today we are continuing with our Inflammation series, focusing on antioxidants – what they are, how they help prevent inflammation, their other functions, why we need to supplement our body’s natural antioxidants and the best sources… WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS? We touched on their anti-inflammatory action in our post, Inflammation and Its Impact on Skin. Antioxidants …

Sofia 06/01/2021 Healthy Living

How Sugar Impacts The Health Of Our Skin

We already know a high sugar diet causes issues with the health of our bodies but have you ever thought about the impact it has on our skin? Many of us enjoy chocolate, sweets, biscuits, cakes, desserts, fizzy drinks and more, with some of us even referring to ourselves as having “a sweet tooth”! And while it&…

Sofia 02/01/2021 Useful to know

Is A Detox Worth It For Healthy Skin And Hair?

*Spoiler alert* it all depends on what is meant by a detox. It’s that time of year when we give ourselves a hard time for being indulgent over the festive period, and we go on a detox as a counterbalance. A detox means different things to different people; for some, it’s giving up certain foods …

Sofia 27/12/2020 Healthy Living

Our Five Tips For Restoring Balance After An Indulgent Few Days

We know that Christmas and New Year’s Eve are going to be very different this year. Workplace parties have been swapped for virtual events and meals out have been stripped back to be with just a few of our closest colleagues, friends or family, where restrictions allow. Everyone will be enjoying festivities in smaller groups or alone, …

Sofia 10/12/2020 Sofia's blog

Getting Skin And Hair Ready For Winter’s Bite

Winter is certainly here. The temperature has dropped, the wind can be pretty harsh and snow has been forecast for some parts of the country. But adapting for seasonal changes doesn’t just mean changing from lightweight clothes to layers, sandals to slippers, fans to fires or cold drinks to hot chocolates. We need to make some tweaks …

Sofia 12/11/2020 Sofia's blog

How To Keep On Top Of Your Wellbeing

For many of us, this is shaping up to be a winter like no other. In the middle of another national lockdown and swiftly approaching the festive season, we’re full of uncertainty instead of the usual Christmas cheer. We don’t know if or when we will be able to get together with our families and …

Sofia 05/11/2020 Sofia's blog

The Role Of Vitamin E In Skin And Scalp Care

Alongside A and C, vitamin E is another vitamin that is a focus in beauty products. It is found in our bodies, in foods and as supplements, but it’s also the most common ingredient found in skincare and hair care products today. With eight types – including pure vitamin E oil, tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate – ‘…

Sofia 25/10/2020 Healthy Living

Getting Ready For Autumn, The Slow Living Way

It certainly feels like autumn is late to start this year. The days may be getting shorter and it is getting darker earlier in the evenings, but the weather has been unseasonably warm. Yet the season of crispy leaves underfoot and a chill in the air will arrive soon enough, with cosy evenings, layers and hot chocolates becoming our&…

Sofia 22/10/2020 Sofia's blog

The Role Of Vitamin A In Skin And Scalp Care

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for the body, playing multiple roles in skin and scalp care. There are two types of vitamin A – retinoids (preformed) and carotenoids (proformed). Both types are converted by the liver to a derivative called retinol. If it isn’t used immediately, it’s stored by the body or transported via …

Sofia 24/09/2020 Useful to know

The Role Of Vitamin C In Skin And Scalp Care

Another wonder ingredient making the headlines lately, Vitamin C – an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) also called Ascorbic Acid – is a water-soluble vitamin which plays multiple roles within the body. Despite its importance, it’s not something stored in the body, therefore it’s important that we provide it through consumption and topical application. Today we&…

Sofia 17/09/2020 Hero Oils

Stimulate Collagen Production With Tamanu Seed Oil

Tamanu seed oil, commonly known as ‘Beauty Leaf Oil’, is one of the hero oils in our Body Oil, selected for its role in boosting the production of collagen in skin. Can we stimulate this essential protein in our bodies by using plant-based, vegan-friendly ingredients? We think so! WHAT IS COLLAGEN AND HOW DO WE SUPPORT …

Sofia 27/08/2020 Healthy Living

Could Drinking More Water Be The Solution To Our Dry Skin And Scalp Woes?

It is so easy to confuse dehydrated skin for dry skin, and the same can be true for a dry scalp. Before looking at which of the products we are using could be the problem, our first port of call is to check our hydration levels. Water is vital for human health. Our body needs water in order to function&…

Sofia 06/08/2020 Healthy skin

Natural ways to reduce dark circles under eyes

Dark circles. One day they’re not too bad, other days they are prominent and nothing seems to help. Most commonly associated with fatigue, the shadows under the lower eyelids can actually exist for a number of different reasons. Understanding what causes them to appear will help you take steps to prevent them. Here are our tips for naturally …

Sofia 08/07/2020 Healthy skin

Help! The Skin On My Legs Is Very Dry

The weather seems to have taken a turn again, and with its unpredictability one minute our legs are out and the next they are covered. We had a customer get in touch looking for some advice as to why she might be experiencing very dry skin on her legs and what she can do about it – an issue faced&…

Sofia 07/07/2020 Healthy Scalp

A Healthy Scalp Is Skincare For Heads

A healthy scalp is just healthy skin on our head. Mostly we select products for our hair – dry hair, damaged hair, oily hair, etc – when in fact thinking about the skin on our scalp in the same way we think about skin on our face and body could be the shortcut to a healthy scalp. And a healthy&…

Sofia 22/06/2020 Healthy Scalp

My Hair Story by Sofia Latif

Our hair changing as we get older is a fact of life, much like when our skin changes as we get older. We have a complicated relationship with our hair, it is so much a part of our identity, and is a creative expression of who we are. My ambition has always been to have the best skin and …

Sofia 03/01/2020 Best of Natural

Best Natural Makeup Removers and Face Cleansers

Here we are with our first post of 2020 and what better time to clear the cobwebs and get back into a routine? Maybe you feel like having a clear-out of your beauty cabinet or perhaps your skin has been playing up after the festive season. Whichever it is, we wanted to continue our Best of Natural series – today’…

Sofia 27/12/2019 Inspiration

Will You Be Setting Intentions Or Making Resolutions For 2020?

Raise your hand if you have set new year’s resolutions in previous years only to find that they fall by the wayside and are forgotten as soon as we get through January? Many of us see a new year as a new beginning and a time to make things/ourselves better – a blank canvas for us to …

Sofia 20/12/2019 Healthy Living

Slowing Down For The Festive Season

The festive season is almost here (aka the most magical yet completely hectic time of the year). While it’s pretty much expected that things will ramp up and we all become really busy, the reality is that it can leave us feeling frazzled rather than refreshed as we step into the new year. But what if we signed …

Sofia 06/12/2019 Healthy skin

Can You Use Coconut Oil On Your Face?

Coconut oil. One minute it’s recommended for everything – from our food to our skin, and our hair to our teeth – and the next we’re told it’s not great for us at all. So what is the truth about the oil we can find so easily in our supermarkets, drugstores and health …

Sofia 29/11/2019 Healthy skin

Best Natural Skin Tints And Foundations

I’m a big advocate for embracing your skin and letting it show through whatever products you’ve chosen to use. Because of this, my personal preference is to use a skin tint as my base; something designed to work with and enhance my skin, rather than cover it up. In this post, I’ll be …

Sofia 22/11/2019 Healthy skin

The Best Ways to Support Collagen Production in Skin

Our first thought when something is in decline in our bodies is how we are going to replace it. When collagen production declines, many of us look to topical skincare products with claims of ‘boosting’ this protein and ‘reversing’ the signs of ageing. However, it is thought that the collagen molecule itself is too large to …

Sofia 17/11/2019 Healthy skin

What is #MySkinIsMe?

Our mission is to give women whose skin has changed with age healthy, supple and elastic skin regardless of skin type*. It’s something we feel passionately about, but it’s also important to acknowledge everyone is on their own journey with their skin, so while we look at all skin and see beauty, we recognise that’…

Sofia 13/09/2019 Healthy skin

Could your dry skin be caused by hormonal changes?

We all know the usual culprits of dry skin: lack of water, naturally dry skin and chemicals in our products such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) stripping it of our natural oils, but as women, one of the areas we don’t focus on as much when trying to understand the cause(s) of our dry skin is …

Sofia 14/04/2019 Healthy skin

Face massage for naturally glowing skin

We all want glowing skin. And we all want the best from every skincare product we invest in, and if we can find ways to make that investment work harder for us, then we feel like it is good value. Face massage is one way to make skincare products work harder for us. It’s a technique used by …

Sofia 07/02/2019 Oils

Paying homage to our signature face oil

We have a new product launching soon, which we are very excited about. But before our attention inevitably goes towards the shiny newness of our under eye oil, we thought we would pay homage to our signature face oil, specifically the ingredients in it. True, it is boring to read an ingredients list, but we promise to make it a&…

Sofia 17/01/2019 Healthy skin

Winter skin – Do we need a whole new routine?

Do you suffer from different feeling skin in winter or the colder months? And do you overhaul your skincare routine (and products) with the change of seasons? What is winter skin? Winter skin is a catch-all term used to describe a change to the way skin feels and looks in the cold. Skin can feel uncomfortable – dry, tight,&…

Sofia 28/12/2018 Healthy skin

How to de-puff skin following an indulgent few days

Skin is too quick to give up the secret of an indulgent few days, showing up as puffy and dry, unpredictable and grey. Not indulging just isn’t an option sometimes. The quickest and easiest way to de-puff skin and bring it back to health is to drink lots of water, and to move. Moving our bodies will support …

Sofia 27/10/2018 Healthy skin

What does healthy skin mean to you?

Healthy skin can mean so many different things… calm, strong, supple, and balanced, are my personal descriptors. For me it means having confidence in my skin, and that it is OK for it not to be picture perfect (whatever that is). I have learnt to accept my skin how it is and all its idiosyncrasies. I want to be …