It’s time to target your skin’s enemies. Say goodbye to the saboteurs and say hello to a glowing complexion.
It’s time to target your skin’s enemies. Say goodbye to the saboteurs and say hello to a glowing complexion.
Skin enemy #1:
DEHYDRATION
Dry skin can be a major problem as it can lead to fine lines, wrinkles and an almost crepe-like complexion. One overlooked cause is over-cleansing, which can strip the skin of its natural oils.
“Hot water combined with dry conditions can sap moisture from the skin. Two to three minutes of cleansing is enough,” says Emma Hobson, education manager of The International Dermal Institute. Try cream cleansers or cleansing balms and give your skin a moisturising boost with a hydrating gel mask at least two times a week after exfoliating. “This will instantly help restore lost moisture.”
She also recommends using a silicone moisturiser (which is water- and oil-free) to seal in moisture and protect the skin. Also, use a hydrating serum underneath your daily moisturiser, then spritz your skin with a hydrating toner (containing an ingredient called hyaluronic acid) to keep dry skin at bay.
Skin enemy #2:
ACNE
Pimples can sometimes appear outside their regular monthly appearance and turn into full-blown acne. If you are pimple-prone, when it comes to choosing skincare products, look for products labelled “oil-free” and “noncomedogenic” (which means it won’t clog pores).
Cleansing regularly can prevent breakouts. Emma suggests using a cleansing oil. “These are terrific at deep cleansing the skin. Follow this with an antibacterial facial gel wash or clay-based cleanser,” she says. Spend a bit more time focusing on the problem areas.
Exfoliation is also a good way to guard against breakouts. Look for products containing hydroxy acids; salicylic acid, in particular. “This is really great for blackheads and breakouts as it’s a fantastic decongestant of follicles,” she explains. A deep-cleansing, sebum-controlling mask is a good skin fix once a week, and an overnight spot-clearing gel will help calm down pimples whenever the odd one pops up (grrr).
Skin enemy #3:
FINE LINES
Face your foes with a little help from these targeted products. The little lines that appear beneath your eyes or across your forehead – especially when you’re tired – are often caused by dehydration. “Hydration is the key to line-free skin,” says Emma. She recommends using products that contain moisture boosters such as hyaluronic acid. These help to smooth out any fine lines that are slowly starting to appear.
Serums and moisturisers that contain collagen-stimulating peptides, such as arginine, will also give your skin an instant smoothing boost. Don’t forget to use products that offer SPF protection (yep, even on overcast or rainy days), because the sun is the skin’s main cause of fine lines.
Skin enemy #4:
DULLNESS
When your skin isn’t reflecting light well, it can look dull. Most of the time, this is due to a build-up of dry skin. Emma says to exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells, ideally with a product that contains lactic acid and salicylic acid. “These are gentler on the skin than abrasive scrubs,” she says. On the days you don’t exfoliate, use a cleanser containing glycolic or salicylic acids to brighten the skin.
Boost hydration with products such as toners, serums and moisturisers containing hyaluronic acid, and use a vitamin-boosting mask once a week to give your skin a real pick-me-up. “Regularly moisturising will allow your skin to better reflect the light,” says Emma. For a super-quick fix, add a drop of fluid luminiser into your moisturiser. It’ll instantly add some light-reflecting particles to the mix.
Skin enemy #5:
PIGMENTATION
Dark freckles, patchiness and pigmentation can develop due to prolonged sun exposure and fluctuating hormones. It’s important to exfoliate your skin using lactic acid to help lighten dark patches and discolouration that are starting to appear on your face.
Most importantly: “Make sure you apply a minimum SPF 30+ sunscreen every day, because without it, pigmentation will just get worse,” warns Emma. Keep a brightening skincare regime to guard against dark spots. It should include a brightening cleanser, toner, serum, spot corrector, moisturiser and sunscreen.
WHAT THE ?
Keep hearing the same words bandied about, but aren’t sure what they do? Here’s the low-down on skincare lingo.
Hyaluronic acid
Naturally found in the skin, it’s often referred to as your body’s own moisturiser because it retains over 1,000 times its weight in water. When applied to the skin in a cream or serum, it works as a brilliant moisturiser to the top layers of the skin.
Peptides
This refers to a small chain of amino acids that act like cell messengers sending signals to the skin like “my collagen is breaking down, so please make more cells”. They deliver signals to stimulate the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, and aid the healing process.
Retinoids
Retinoids resurface the top layer of your skin by normalising the turnover of skin cells while boosting collagen production to make your complexion appear smooth and firm (pretty much the dream, right?). They can be found in over-the-counter products, but there are also prescription retinoids, such as tretinoin or the brand Retin-A, which are great to combat the signs of ageing, and adapalene, which also treats acne.
AHA/BHA
Also known as alpha and beta hydroxy acids, these organic acids come from fruits, nuts, milk, sugars and even trees. They’re exfoliants that dissolve the substances bonding dead skin cells together. AHAs work on the surface layer, while BHAs penetrate deeper to clear clogged pores. Salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids are all part of this family. Total skin-savers.
Vitamin C
You know how good it is for your overall health and well-being, but vitamin C’s antioxidant properties make it a great skin all-rounder too. It protects against environmental damage, prevents skin inflammation and brightens dark skin spots. It’s also a serious weapon in combating acne and scarring.
