And it’s December! Which means parties, travel, family reunions and lots and lots of photos.
This also means you need to look fabulous.
Luckily for you, I’ve made a list of things you need to do (starting now!) to get your glow on, right in time for the holidays!
1. Moisturise your skin, no matter what your skin type.
The best thing you can do for your skin is moisturise it. No matter what your skin type is, your skin needs moisture to be healthy and glowing. You just need to find a moisturiser that’s right for you.
Think about it, you drink water everyday right? Moisturiser is literally like a glass of water for your skin. Without it, your skin starts to misbehave (as would you if someone left you thirsty all day long). It could either get very dry or very oily, it may appear dull and patchy, acne may get worse, fine lines may be more obvious… Yikes!
So do yourself a favour and moisturise your skin every single day. Morning and night.
Tip: Most people use the wrong moisturizer in winter. It’s either way too rich – resulting in greasiness, bumps and breakouts, or too mild – hello dry patches and itchiness! You need to be extra careful while choosing a moisturizer. You want it to hydrate your skin without irritating it. Make sure it matches your skin type – which may have changed with the change in season.
Stuff I ❤️: Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream works on most skin types. You just need to adjust the quantity to match your skin type. And though it’s positioned as an anti-aging product, it works really well even if you’re in your 20’s.
2. Add Vitamin C to your skincare routine (and diet).
Vitamin C has 2 amazing skin benefits: anti-aging and spot removal!
So it actually helps your skin get brighter and tighter.
Which is why you must make sure at least one of the products in your routine has Vitamin C as the main ingredient. If you want to see the best results, pick a Vitamin C serum – because a serum is the most potent product in your skincare routine.
A serum can do what no other product can – go into the deepest layers of your skin to do the best job.
But don’t just stop there. Add it to your diet as well. Because Vitamin C works both inside and out.
Tip: Squeeze fresh lemon into a mug full of hot water, add a teaspoon of honey and drink as soon as you wake up. The lemon juice gives you an instant shot of Vitamin C that increases collagen production (less fine lines and wrinkles). The anti-bacterial property of honey reduces acne and blemishes. The hot water hydrates your skin from inside-out. Woohoo!
Stuff I ❤️: Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% is super expensive, which I really dislike because it works so bloody well! I just have to keep buying it.
3. Steam clean your skin every weekend.
Tons of gunk can get stuck in your pores over the week. So it makes sense to deep clean your pores every weekend
Just 1-2 minutes of steaming will make a big difference to your skin. The steam not only removes all the toxins that are stuck inside your skin, it also improves your blood circulation – giving you a beautiful glow.
Tip: As soon as you’re done steaming your skin, apply a toner (to remove all the rubbish that has come to the surface) and then top it off with a moisturiser to close your pores and lock in the moisture (aka make your skin super soft and glowy).
4. Give your skin a nice scrub.
Ever noticed how soft and bright your skin looks immediately after using a face scrub? It’s because when you scrub your skin, you brush away the dull, dead skin cells that have collected on the top –making your skin tone brighter and more even.
What makes exfoliation so damn awesome is that your skin care products work better. Because the top layer of dead skin is gone, your moisturizer and other products can go deeper and do a much better job.
Do this twice a week, and your skin will soon get that killer lit-from-within glow.
Tip: It’s easy to get carried away while scrubbing – leaving your skin raw, irritated and damaged. Which is much worse!
Don’t overdo it. It’s always better to be super gentle and slow. Scrub lightly for just 1 minute and no more.
Stuff I ❤️: I’ve been using St. Ives Apricot Scrub literally my whole life (ok, since I turned 13). And even though I try new ones, this scrub never ever leaves my bathroom. It gives me the cleanest, softest and brightest glow ever.
5. Sunscreen is a must, even in winter.
Yes, it’s winter. Yes, it’s not that sunny. No, you can’t skip sunscreen.
Because 80% of harmful sun rays can pass through clouds. So sun damage happens even on an overcast day!
When you don’t use sunscreen, your skin gets uneven, spots, discolourations and even breakouts! Sunscreen makes your skin resilient, so it doesn’t react badly to the sun.
It’s best to end your morning regimen with a sunscreen – no matter the weather.
Stuff I ❤️: La Roche Posay Anti-Shine Matte Fluid SPF 30 goes on so easily and dries down to a slight matte finish. Plus, it gives truckloads of protection.
6. Fake a facial with a face mask.
Don’t think of a face mask as a pampering treat. Think of it as something you need often (at least twice a week!) for glowing skin.
Face masks target your skin problems immediately, that is why you get such fast results. But not all formulas are created equal, so you need to pick one that matches your skin perfectly.
- If your skin is greasy or congested, try a clay or mud-based mask to absorb excess oil and impurities from your pores.
- If dryness and flakes are your issue, you need a heavy hit of hydration, and sheet mask is your best bet.
- For dull, tired skin, opt for a mask containing brightening fruit acids to get your skin glowing.
Stuff I ❤️: Pixi Glow-O2 Oxygen Mask is a bubbling mask that feels like a cloud just sat on your face. Apart from feeling heavenly, it makes skin brighter in 5 minutes flat!
7. Get more “beauty sleep”.
You know this, but I’m going to say it anyways.
“When you don’t get enough sleep, you don’t look so great.”
While you sleep, your body replaces tired old cells with fresh new ones, helping your complexion to look more glowy.
It is also the time when your body re-balances your moisture levels. This means it takes care of skin hydration and gives you plumper, more nourished skin when you wake up. Which is why less sleep can make you look puffy, give you a dull complexion and a multitude of skin-related woes.
Tip: Night time is also when there’smore blood flow to your skin. This is the best time to treat your skin as it can absorb all the nutrients better. Make a habit of doing your skincare routine as soon as you come home. If you wait until you’re tired, you’re more likely to skip it.
8. Drink water like it’s going out of fashion.
We’ve heard every celeb say the same thing. Over and over again.
“My skin looks great because I drink lots of water”. (Time to roll your eyes)
BUT there is actually a lot of truth in that. Drinking loads of water is great for skin.
Just the normal 8 glasses don’t quite cut it if you want fab skin though. You really need to up your water intake for that. Like about 3 litres a day.
Why so much?!
Because water reaches all your other organs before it reaches your skin. Which simply means that if you don’t drink enough water, your skin will get dehydrated. And then, you can say hello to long list of skin problems like dullness, uneven skin tone, dryness, fine lines & wrinkles and even oiliness!
In a nutshell, if you want clear, glowing skin quickly, drink more water. A lot more.
Tip: Instead of drinking tea or coffee first thing in the morning, drink two glasses of water. This sets you up for a good skin day.
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