The sins of your youth can take time to manifest themselves (at which point they’re much harder to ‘undo’), which is why we recommend you take the following (not-at-all drastic) steps, to prolong your skin’s glow and help keep lines at bay…
{Cleanse carefully}
It’s vitally important to give skin a chance to ‘breathe’, which means removing the day’s make up without fail. And remember to respect your complexion – exfoliation is amazing, but don’t overdo it. Use a physical or chemical resurfacing treatment once or twice a week (depending on skin’s tolerance), then choose an ultra-gentle cream or oil-based formula to dissolve grime and leave your face feeling refreshed.
Sonya Dakar’s {Sensi Wash} is mild but effective – suitable for easily-offended skin types, as well as those who’re prone to redness or breakouts. Or try January Labs {Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel} – a frills-free foaming formula that helps to eradicate excess oil and pore-clogging dirt without compromising your skin’s natural defences. You can boost its benefits with LUNA’s {Mini 2} – a pocket-sized, sonic-powered gizmo that gives pores a workout.
{Add an acid}
Sounds terrifying but it’s one of the best things you can do to keep skin luminous. Glycolic acid – most-commonly derived from sugar cane – dissolves the ‘glue’ that sticks dead cells and debris to skin’s surface. Beloved by beauty guru Caroline Hirons (whose recommendations we swear by), Pixi’s {Glow Tonic} is the ideal acidic toner; suitable for even sensitive visages, it leaves dulled complexions much more light-reflective, while gradually fading acne scars and working to keep breakouts at bay.
SHOP TONERS >>
{Eyes on the prize}
Remember to use eye cream – they’re specially tailored to combat the first signs of ageing and fortify delicate skin. You don’t need anything particularly potent – just something nourishing and preferably elasticising – to keep the skin firm and delay the onset of crow’s feet. A great habit to start at a young age, try Caudalie’s {VineActiv} formula, which is brimming with antioxidants to ward against skin-ageing elemental stress.
SHOP EYES >>
{Get your vitamins}
Packed with free radical fighters, vitamin C is also a sun-filter – perfect under sunscreen to deflect the sneaky rays that infiltrate your SPF. LIXIRSKIN’s {Vitamin C Paste} works as a morning-time ‘flash mask’ – banishing the daily ‘urban grey’ while fortifying skin’s defences and diminishing persistent pigmentation patches. Follow with a sprinkling of The Ordinary’s brilliant {100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder} mixed into your preferred treatment or day cream for a skin-rejuvenating boost.
{ALWAYS wear sunscreen}
Even when it’s grey/cloudy/snowing… sunscreen is the best thing you can do to maintain skin’s integrity. You don’t need a high factor (especially when subject to the not-Great British weather) – anything between 20-30 will do – and slather it on liberally (it should be the last step in your morning-time skin care regime). Zelens {Daily Defence} creates an invisible shield between complexion and the everyday environmental onslaught, or try Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s tinted {Instant Radiance SPF 40} – make up and sun cream in one, handbag-compatible tube.