Babies necks, teenage sons… and skin. Three things that you love so much you can suffocate with unwanted attention. Although you mean well, when it comes to your complexion, easing back a tad may bear greater gifts in the future.
Are you keeping it clean?
Like the Kardashian’s, my mother taught me that a warm facecloth over a cleansed face will open the pores and lift out the dirt, but what Mamma may have overlooked is the fact that said face washers and loofahs are a breeding ground for bacteria. The best bet is to cleanse with a gentle product and splash it off with cool water afterwards. Trusty disposable makeup remover towelettes are also a great guaranteed-to-be-clean option.
Try: Manicare Facial Cleansing Buff, $5.95, and Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Cleansing Facial Towelettes, $4.99, and the both from Priceline.
Easy Tiger
More is not more when it comes to skincare. Sixteen different day creams will not mean you are sixteen steps closer to fewer lines. This kind of cosmetic overkill will not only exhaust your time and budget, but who can be assed applying all that product? Too much skincare – in the wrong combinations – can also exacerbate inflammation, which can lead to more fragile skin and even more visible wear and tear. Stick to a healthy routine of following a gentle cleanse with an SPF and a daily moisturiser only. Done. Now move away from the mirror.
Try: Invisible Zinc UV Silk Shield Foundation, $42, from David Jones, and People for Plants Day Cream, $29.95, from Priceline
Don’t be Scared of Skincare
Conversely, some go the other way in an attempt to allow skin to breathe by not using any skincare at all. This, my friends, is a recipe for wrinkles. Skin needs some hydration help – even if your skin is already oily. If you are not keen on heavy creams and oils (which is fair enough as sometimes they can sit on the skin and give you a suffocated feeling, especially if they contain mineral oil or petrolatum) be really vigilant about what you choose. Alternatively, go for a natural rosehip oil to keep lipids plump and reduce dehydration – and lines down the, uh, line.
Try: Endota Spa Rosehip Oil, $25, from Endota Spa, and Nuxe Multi-Usage Dry Oil, $24.99, from pharmacies
Go Naked
Makeup free days should be as frequent as Fridays, i.e. weekly. By over compensating for a loss of vibrancy and vitality of skin with a cacophony of layered illuminator, concealer, highlighter, bronzer and, uh, more illuminator, will do more harm than good. Allowing your skin to remain free of any cosmetics for a day will not only make it feel lighter, but will allow it to recalibrate itself and avoid clogging and congestion. However, if you are too much of a prude to go nude, some experts say that using a moisturising foundation or a hydrating powder can be beneficial to keeping pH levels even and protecting the skin from harmful UV and UVB rays.
Try: Nutrimetics nc Cover-Rich Moisturising Foundation SPF 15, $54, from Nutrimetics, and Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All Smooth Makeup, $68, from department stores.
Hell in Hot Water
Long hot showers on these icy mornings can prove a killer for your complexion. See, hot water dissolves natural body oil which means the skin is left parched and the pH unbalanced. To remedy this, give the Rheem hot water a rest and take shorter showers with warm – not steaming – water. For even better maintenance of the complexion post-shower, use a specific face towel – rather than the same one on face and body – so you avoid any irritations.
Try: Manicare Supa Dry Towel, $19.99, from Priceline and the Aveda Shammy Cloth, $19.95, from department stores and
So Primpers, are you guilty of an over-zealous skincare routine?
ecb x
