The Skin Nerd: How to glow under the Christmas lights

We are fast approaching the party season and radiant skin is high on our wish lists...

Pic: iStock

The party season is upon us, and glow-getting skincare and make-up are coming into focus. 

There’s no doubt that makeup can create some dazzling looks, but it always starts with skincare, and so, without further ado, these are the rules I follow for radiant and healthy skin:

1. Double cleanse

Begin with my daily essential: The double cleanse. 

It may seem like a lot of effort, but keeping your skin clean and nourished is essential to create a plump, hydrated look. 

It’s also vital in the long-term for individual skin concerns and for achieving even texture and tone for that radiant finish we all crave. 

I suggest you add a probiotic cleanser, such as Biofresh probiotic ultra-delicate cleansing milk, into your routine to make sure you’re giving your skin the most gentle, but efficient, cleanse, so as to lay the foundation for the other steps of your radiant-skin routine.

2. Exfoliate with care

Now, I probably don’t need to try too hard to encourage you to exfoliate. 

Exfoliating is super-popular, mainly because exfoliators are one of the of few types of product that give you an instant result. 

As we age, our skin lacks a youthful glow without regular exfoliation.

You see, dead cells can accumulate on the surface of the skin, if it isn’t exfoliating itself properly, and this robs you of your glow, because older skin cells don’t reflect light as effectively. 

Fresh after exfoliating, you have the smooth, bright skin of your dreams, but you know what they say about too much of a good thing and over-exfoliating causes more harm than good. 

This is why you need to get clued up and prepared, pre-exfoliation. 

Firstly, you need to decide on the type of exfoliation. The most common modes of exfoliation can be separated into two categories:

Mechanical exfoliation: For example, gritty scrubs, exfoliating gloves, or tools. 

You might recall that I don’t recommend regular mechanical exfoliation for the face, as many methods can be too abrasive for the skin barrier. 

Mechanical exfoliation can also be performed as part of treatments, such as microdermabrasion or blading, and take place in salons and clinics.

Chemical exfoliation: A kinder-to-the-skin alternative to gritty scrubs, chemical exfoliation is when acids, enzymes, or vitamin A are used to prompt the skin to exfoliate off the dead cells.

If you’re oil-prone, then a salicylic-based cleanser is your best pal here, but, otherwise, using an AHA active cleanser in the evenings would be ideal for brightening and smoothing your skin. 

If you’re using many different, blended acid products, it can be easy to tip the scales and overdo it.

For example, using a glycolic toner alongside a salicylic acid cleanser, with a lactic acid-infused serum, is way too much to be used daily, so it’s not just what you use, either, it’s how often and the combination of products you are using.

Signs that you are over-exfoliating: Prevention is always better than cure, but if you experience any of the following, it’s time to strip back and give your skin a break:

• Your skin is tender and red, and your forehead is like a marble countertop. A shiny, polished-looking forehead is a good sign that you’ve thinned out your stratum corneum.
• Your skin may also be sensitive to everything, with added redness and tenderness to boot.
• Your skin is in pain — discontinue use of all acids and exfoliants immediately!

3. Hydrate with the correct ingredients

Dewy skin givers include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, and Vitamin A:

Hyaluronic Acid

This hero humectant attracts moisture, and when applied topically, will draw moisture to the surface of your skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and works wonders on ageing skin, too, as the humectant effect diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I recommend Pestle & Mortar pure hyaluronic serum, which is suitable for twice-daily use. Simply apply one drop on each cheek and one on your forehead, and spread across skin with your fingertips for amazing hydrating effects.

Ceramides

If hyaluronic acid is your water, then think of your ceramide as your oil. After applying your water, you need to apply something ceramide-heavy to keep it in place and to boost the resilience of your skin barrier. Ceramide-rich IMAGE vital C hydrating repair creme is a great option for anyone seeking to repair and protect their skin’s barrier.

Vitamin A

Prolonged use of Vitamin A works to compact the cells in your epidermis and make them light-reflective. One of my favourite products to recommend is Environ Skin essentiA vita-antioxidant AVST moisturiser 1, which contains a low concentration of vitamin A (in the form of retinyl palmitate), alongside antioxidants and vitamin C to help reduce the signs of accelerated ageing and boost the appearance of healthier-looking skin.

Niacinamide

The secret ingredient for a party-perfect glow. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that can bring down inflammation and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and the appearance of enlarged pores.

My pick is ASAP Skincare Super B complex serum, which is brilliant for calming inflammation and redness and helping to make skin more luminous.

4. Accept your pores

One of the most popular dewy skin trends of late is ‘Glass skin’, where you try to make your skin closely resemble a piece of glass that’s clear, practically poreless and highly polished. 

The trend derives from Korean beauty, but it became a viral hit here a few years ago and, thanks to a universal love for all things radiant, it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

While we can emulate this look as much as possible by ramping up our hydration levels on the inside and outside, it’s important to remember that nobody is poreless.

Blame advanced filters for making us think we can eradicate our pores, but don’t berate yourself for being human and having them.

We can minimise the look of pores, but they are still going to be there and that is normal.

So, there you have it: A perfect base for your dewy skin party look! Just remember to work with the skin you have and keep skin health at the forefront.