‘The city is an epitome of the social world. All the belts of civilization intersect along its avenues.’ So said Edwin Hubbell Chapin, and few would argue with his characterisation of the city as a microcosm of humanity, filled with diverse cultural riches. What Mr. Hubbell Chapin fails to mention, however, is how hard the urban metropolis can be on the skin of its citizens. Polluted air, extremes of temperature and all manner of environmental stressors present an affront to the senses and skin alike, conspiring to clog pores with impurities and making one’s complexion appear dull and congested.
But just as a pocket park at the centre of a hectic city block may offer succour to the frazzled mind, there are ways to mitigate the city’s stresses on the skin. Read on for a regimen tailored to life in urban environs.
The purifying properties of Parsley Seed
Anti-oxidants are an essential part of protecting one’s skin from free radical damage caused by airborne pollution and UV rays, so will play a fundamental role in this regimen. Our Parsley Seed formulations are rich in anti-oxidants, which has made them a permanent presence in bathrooms across the cities of the world, and together they comprise a mini regimen of their own.
Begin by using Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Cleansing Oil to purify and nourish the skin, as well as remove any make-up. For a rigorous but gentle double-cleanse, follow with Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser—a gel-based face wash with Lactic Acid to exfoliate in the morning and clean away the day’s accumulated impurities last thing at night. Using both formulations in tandem ensures the skin is more receptive to the rest of the regimen: Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Toner to soothe and balance the skin, and finally Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Hydrator to leave the face feeling thoroughly fortified against environmental stressors.
Refreshed hands, between bathroom visits
Of course, it’s not only the face that deserves a bit of respite from the pace of city life. The hands arguably bear the brunt of the city’s grit and grime, coming into contact as they do with door handles, hanging straps, handrails and push buttons in numbers that frankly don’t bear thinking about. It isn’t always possible to get to the bathroom for a proper cleansing of the hands with soap and water, but thankfully there is Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Mist, a few sprays of which offers instant refreshment to hands, alongside the unmistakeable aroma of our Resurrection family. Follow with a dab of Aromatique Hand Balm, available in a perfectly portable tube and a trio of evocative scents.
For those within nose-shot
Protecting oneself from pollutants is important, but of equal importance is taking a moment to consider how one might be polluting one’s own immediate environment. In the spirit of civic mindedness, a regimen for urban life could not be deemed complete without the inclusion of our Déodorant: nothing short of a necessity in maintaining olfactory harmony in cramped train cars during the warmer months.
Fragrances to transport
And remaining in the realm of the aromatic for a moment longer, consider a fragrance’s ability to immediately transport the mind elsewhere. Sitting in gridlock during the morning rush hour, that sojourn on the Mediterranean coast could not feel more distant. But a few sprays of Tacit—with its unique composition of Yuzu, Vetiver Heart and Basil—could almost make you believe you were there once again.
‘There is countryside quiet to be found in the city.’
Fernando Pessoa
