Ah January, season of darkness, rain and that flat, back-to-work feeling. Combined with skin that’s enjoyed all the party season has to offer and looks dull, tired and spotty, it’s enough to send us straight back to the sequin-glory of December. Not ones to stay gloomy for long, we think it’s about time your skin embraced the new year with our skincare routine update and some instant glow-giving tips and tricks.
Re-Think Your Routine
Start a new routine now and you’ll see excellent results in a month to six weeks; keep it going and 2018 could be the year of radiant skin. Start with overhauling your approach to cleansing, so if you left makeup on before bed in 2017, that’s the first thing to banish. Choose a cleanser that you love using and it’ll have much more appeal each morning and evening.
Cleansing balms are nourishing and offer an indulgent experience that’s as enjoyable as it is effective. We like Ren No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm and Oskia Micro Exfoliating Balm. If you’re a fan of a refreshing splash of water then try a foaming or gel blend like Eve Lom Gel Balm Cleanser or Omorovicza Foam Cleanser. If it’s only sheer luxury that will get that makeup off, Votary Cleansing Oil – Rose Geranium & Apricot with its delicate scent and rich oil-texture or the silky soft La Mer The Cleansing Lotion are both excellent choices.
Exfoliate To Reveal Radiance
Introduce your skin to gentle chemical exfoliation and in around four weeks’ time you’ll see a real change, with smoother, brighter and softer skin on show. The gentle acids in Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel slough away dead cells, revealing the newer, brighter, plumper skin underneath. If you prefer a liquid formula try Sarah Chapman Skinesis Liquid Facial Resurfacer, which combines gentle lactic acid with natural fruit acids to help brighten and smooth.
Boost Your Skin’s Glow
Give your skin an extra boost every morning and evening and it will reward you with a new found radiance. Choose a serum that suits your skin type and apply using light tapping motions with your fingertips after exfoliation for better absorption and more benefits. To fight dullness and tired skin, try Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate, for skin that’s been partying hard and looks dry and dehydrated choose a moisturising blend like Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Serum. If you’re suffering from outbreaks Odacité Gr+G Oily/Acne Prone Serum Concentrate helps to clear pores and soothe inflammation.
Protect
When your skin is damaged, not only can it look dull, red, spotty or flaky (or have all of these issues), it also compromises its barrier function meaning it’s not so quick to fight the free radicals that speed-up the signs of ageing. If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends and eating all the cheese, it’s a good idea to give skin an extra dose of protective moisture.
Look for products rich in nutritious vitamins and omega oils like Elemental Herbology Cell Active Moisturiser and Sarah Chapman Skinesis Dynamic Defence SPF 15. Don’t skip the SPF either; even in winter UVA and UVB light are the main causes of ageing, so always finish your skincare regime with a dedicated SPF product like Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream SPF 30. Plus, if you live in the city it’s worth protecting skin from damaging pollution. Adding a few drops of Oskia CityLife Booster to your moisturiser each morning will help with that.
Instant Transformers
When you need a skincare quick fix, an evening at home with a face mask and a big glass of water is a great place to start. Choose a mask that will target your skin’s main issue: for tight, dry and dull skin, we like the restorative Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask. To detox skin and deeply clear pores, try Omorovicza’s Ultramoor Mud Mask, or if your skin is so confused that it’s red, dry, spotty and oily all at once, then try Chantecaille Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask, as there’s nothing that this soothing gel-cream can’t help with.
If you’re ultra-short on time then spend one minute with Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial for smoother, brighter skin almost instantly. Or fake a winter glow (because a tan hides a multitude of sins) by adding 1-3 drops of Vita Liberata Self Tanning Anti-Age Serum to your moisturiser at night and wake up radiant.
It’s as if December never happened.
