Fresh face on the scene

It’s a new year, and along with the brand new you, fresh skin is so dearly desired after the undeniable over-indulging over the holiday season. Aside from the “ooh, go on then” adding to your waistline, it added to your blemishes; so instead of wearing more foundation, why don’t you apply more care?

The skin on your face is extremely delicate and extremely personal to you (obviously), one woman’s treasure is another woman’s “what did I do for you to hate me so?” skin irritant. So here are a few tips to get you on the right track:

Dry skin

We hear you sister, it’s a pain. No matter how much moisturiser you seem to put on, it is never enough. However, as ridiculous as the notion sounds, adding too much moisture to a dry face can actually do more harm than good; anything that is not absorbed ends up just sitting on top of your face, causing blemishes and the chemicals blocking your pores. To avoid skin aggravation, use cleanser for sensitive skin, then exfoliate with the Dermalogica face exfoliation brush to remove dead skin cells, then use a natural moisturiser like Dr. Hauschka’s.

Oily skin

A common misconception is not to moisturise, however for your skin to remain bright and lively, use an oil-free product like Kiehls lotion, which will give your skin the nutrients it needs without clogging your pores. In addition, try to use a matte foundation, like Nars Sheer Matte, which again will prevent oil from forming on your skin throughout the day. Also, when buying facial products, always look at the ingredients and avoid anything containing mineral oil, petrolatum, shea butter, linalool (lanolin oil), paraffin wax, glycerine, squalane creams and anti-ageing skin care creams.

Blemishes

Simple as this may sound, eating healthily does provide your skin with a multitude of benefits; clearing and reducing blemishes is one of them. Try to include plenty of vitamins A, B and C into your diet. Also, as a simple natural remedy, using cold water or ice is a simple way of tightening your pores, and therefore reducing the visible size of the blemish. Additionally, lemon is a powerful ingredient, by taking two tbsp of lemon juice, and the same with honey and rose water, make a paste then apply to your skin for 10-15 minutes. Just be careful when using lemon on your face if you have sensitive skin, and always use a test patch to ensure you don’t have a reaction to it.

Blackheads

Everyone’s least favourite face occurrence, appearing in clans and if successful when removing, they leave with a vengeance. Open your pores with a hot wet flannel on your face then get one tbsp of honey and two tbsps of sugar, make into a paste and apply to your skin for 20-25 minutes, then wet your hands and move in circular motions around your face for about a minute, then wash off. Either splash your face with cool water, or apply a toner to close the pores and prevent dirt and grime from getting in. Honey has natural antibacterial powers and the sugar acts as the exfoliant, removing the grime that causes blackheads, and reducing/preventing them. 

So enter the new year with skin to be envious of!

Tamara Massey