Is your complexion feeling the effects of that holiday over-indulgence? Help is at hand; with clever eye massage and radiance-boosting ingredients, there’s a simple plan for a glowy complexion fast, says editor Trudi Brewer.
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Time To Hit Reset
Parties, over-indulging, a sugar-rich diet, lack of sleep, stress, and a busy schedule mean we pay less attention to our skin and its needs during the festive season. All these factors take their toll and can result in redness, dullness, breakouts, patchy dryness and inflammation. Essentially, our lifestyle choices affect our skin, which certainly comes into play by January. This is the time to hit reset and feed your skin with moisture. Get back to basics with a simple routine of gentle, lightweight products, such as an exfoliating cleanser, hydrating serum and SPF. It’s nutrients and antioxidants that the skin needs to heal and repair itself.
The Treatment
The latest technology for rejuvenation to help give skin clarity and firmness is Renuva,
Available at Clear Skincare Clinics. It targets concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and stubborn scarring. It’s a gentle, non-ablative laser that works deep in the skin (so no visible damage on the skin’s surface) with columns of heat that help regenerate your skin’s natural collagen and elastin production. The treatment itself is swift but not pain-free. Expect the skin to feel hot during the laser treatment (like that sunburn feeling), so numbing cream is essential (applied before the treatment at home); the best is Emla Cream, $22. While the laser creates the channels, cool air blows on the skin during the season, so the discomfort quickly passes. Next, a healing serum and SPF are applied post-treatment, and you are back in the office. Any redness or heat lasts only a few hours, so there is little to no downtime.
Expect to pay: Renuva treatments start at $399; three to six treatments are recommended only, depending on your concerns and goals.
Skincare Ingredients that Make A Big Difference
Antioxidants like vitamin C should be in everyone's routine year-round, especially in January. Antioxidants support your skin’s barrier function for a smoother appearance, giving it more protection against damage like pollution and UV rays. Used alongside ceramides, it’s proven to enhance the upper layers of skin to protect the more delicate ones underneath. Most skin types also benefit from a hefty dose of peptides, short-chain amino acids that, on a cellular level, help build proteins in the skin, like collagen. This is the fastest way to bring things back under control while also plumping and smoothing skin to reduce the look of sallowness and a loss of firmness.
We swear by this cream to reset dull, dry, sun damaged- looking skin. Thanks to the combination of glycolic acid, argan stem cells, 24-karat gold flakes, chia seed extract and lactic acid, it offers gentle exfoliation while boosting skin hydration and encouraging radiance - it’s brilliant.
Exfoliation Is a game-changer
If dullness is plaguing your skin post-Christmas, it’s probably dehydration. Yes, up your moisture levels, but don't rush to apply a rich cream; instead, look for one with the right ingredients but in a lighter formula, which helps it absorb quickly and offer maximum results. Second, don't neglect exfoliation. Skin dullness is often caused by a build-up of dead skin on the skin's surface, creating a dull layer that blocks the healthier, glowy skin cells underneath from shining through. Regular, mild exfoliation is a game changer. Try an acid or an enzyme-based cleanser over a gritty scrub. This is a gentle and super effective way to brighten your skin fast.
It is an understatement to say we are obsessed with this fruit-acid-based cleanser. It lifts every scrap of makeup from your face with its delicious coconut, macadamia and moringa oil formulation, which hydrates and gently exfoliates thanks to the papaya extract. The powerful tropical skin-repairing oils leave skin plum and nourished. If this doesn’t transform dull-looking skin - nothing will.
Breakout Remedies
Sugar and Christmas go hand in hand - it’s also a reason you may have the odd flare-up or breakout on the skin. Ingredients, such as retinoids (vitamin A) and salicylic acid, help minimise pore blockages, especially on the chin and forehead. Antibacterial ingredients such as salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, and azelaic acid help shrink spots and reduce their size and redness. While it’s obvious, try to create less of an insulin spike from sugar-binging, opt for healthy meals, and drink lots of water to reduce inflammation in your skin.
This clever blemish treatment reduces spots and redness within four hours and is ideal for any skin type suffering breakouts. The salicylic acid gently exfoliates and clears blocked pores, while pine and thyme extracts soothe and strengthen the skin barrier.
EYEs need TLC
It's not just the face that shows the tell-tale signs of Christmas; the eye area will, too. Experts swear by a facial massage to improve stagnant lymph flow. Work gently using your index and middle fingers to keep everything moving. Incorporate brightening ingredients in your eye serum or cream, including peptides and caffeine – proven to make a difference to the skin. Nothing helps reduce puffy eyes and darkness more than a good night's sleep, but a lightweight eye gel is the next best thing. Gels absorb quickly to deliver those hard-working ingredients while immediately hydrating and brightening the delicate skin around the eye area. For instant relief, if your eyes feel tired and puffy, ice cubes gliding over the skin quickly in sweeping movements work wonders to de-puff and soothe. It sounds simple, but it works a treat.
Loved by millions, and for a good reason. This soothing eye gel cream can do no wrong in our eyes. It’s got a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid with lavender flower extract and skin-firming peptides. Lactobacillus ferment, lentil and apple extracts, vitamin E, caffeine, and watermelon extracts. The list continues regarding its age-erasing and skin-brightening abilities - one-word #love.
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