How to achieve your best spring skin.
By Sandie Cormie
FACE RENEWAL
Stimulation is the best way to get your skin on the same page and there’s nothing quite like an invigorating exfoliation to start the engine. Non-sensitive skin can try manual exfoliation using a product with spherical beads – like BioNike Defence Micro-Exfoliating Scrub, Avène Gentle Exfoliating Gel or Clarins Comfort Scrub. After cleansing, apply scrub to wet skin in a gentle circular motion to dislodge the accumulated dead skin cells and radically improve the skin’s natural radiance. Sensitive skins should opt for an enzymatic exfoliator on clean, damp skin to give the skin a milder wakeup call – try Clarins Gentle Peeling or Sensai Silk Peeling Powder or Mask. Follow with a skin-quenching serum and moisturiser/night cream suited to your skin type - like Payot Exfoliating Gel in Oil.
We must talk serums because there are some terrific options that will give skin the boost it craves – BioNike Defence Boost Fortifying Concentrate with Hyaluronic Acid + Probiotic (NEW), PAYOT L’Authentique (NEW – utterly splurge-worthy!) and mineraline Rejuvenate Antioxidant Vitaserum (international award-winner).
Changing up your night cream to a nutrient-rich one is an easy way to help rid dry skin and allow it to renew overnight. We suggest African Extracts Rooibos Advantage Hydrofirm C Night Treatment, Skintegrity Nourishing Night Cream with Rosehip Oil & Hyaluronic Acid and Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream.
Before you pop your night cream on and your face is still slightly damp after it’s been cleansed, slather on a nourishing night treatment. Try Bionike Defence Skinergy Reactivating Concentrate Ampoules; Vichy LiftActiv Specialist Peptide-C Anti-ageing Ampoules; Elizabeth Arden Hyaluronic Acid Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum, My Payot Brume Eclat or Creightons Vitamin C Face Serum.
Skin nurturing supplements to consider: Dis-Chem GOLD Hair, Skin & Nails, Solal Collagen Plus Skin Essentials, Nutriwomen Beauty Health & Fitness pack or Collagen Lift ampoules (four options that include one for men).
BODY REVIVAL
Scratchy wool for cool cotton is a welcome trade-off for skin that is longing to shed accumulated surface dry skin cells and feel the direct, energising warmth of spring sunshine! So, while you prepare your face for springtime, remember the skin on your body too.
Get your blood and conversation pumping with a brisk, early morning walk with your BFF daily. Follow this with a body brush using a stiff, natural-bristled brush like Cleanlogic Bath & Body Wooden Handle Bristle Bath Brush or the Bathmate Bath Brush. Brush your skin with firm pressure in an upwards motion on your legs and arms then turn your shower into a mood-transforming experience with an invigorating shower gel. The scents from these shower gels will surely put a smile on your face. Try La Roche Posay Lipikar Cleansing Oil, Hawkins & Brimble Body Wash Elemi and Ginseng, Radox Body Wash Feel Invigorated; Nature Box Shower Gel with Apricot Oil, or Sanex Shower Gel 0% Dry Skin. After you’re done body brushing and have hopped out of the shower, it’s time to smooth on a fabulous body oil. There are tonnes to choose from, but you should try one of these: Eucerin Caring Body Oil, Payot Huile Elixir Enhancing Nourishing Oil, or Dr Teal’s Body Oil Relax & Relief with Eucalyptus & Spearmint.
To exfoliate try Clarins Tonic Body Polisher, mineraline EXFOLIATE Shea Butter Body Polish, BioNike Defence Body Scrub, Uriage Body Scrubbing Cream, or Dermactin-TS Exfoliating Body Polish.
To optimise moisturisation, check out BioNike Defence Body Hydraspray (quick and easy for gym kits), Palmer’s Coconut Oil Antioxidant Firming Lotion, CeraVe Moisturising Lotion, Rooibos Body Butter, or Bioderma Atoderm Creme.
Every exfoliation session makes a difference to the quality of the skin’s texture so think of it as a work in progress, not a one-off miracle! Each session removes a layer of stubborn dead and ashen skin cells to uncover the fresher, plumper skin cells underneath. Also, when blood circulation and lymph drainage are re-awakened by exfoliation, it helps to break down stubborn fat deposits and enhance surface smoothness.
Sources: healthline.com / cosmeticsandtoiletries.com / medicalnewstoday.com
