7 Steps To Restore Radiance

Posted: Tuesday 9 August 2011 08:51am

We’re on the home stretch of winter, with the traditionally coldest weeks to come, so it’s fair to bet your skin won’t be at its glowing best right now, with indoor-outdoor temperature extremes, too-hot showers and harsh winds. Try these seven tips to restore radiance.

1: Scrub out the bad guys

A build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of your face will leave it looking dull. The solution: exfoliation. You might need to increase your weekly scrub to 2-3 times a week depending on how dry and flaky you’re feeling.

2. Replenish lost moisture
The dry air in winter and contrasting change in temperature as you go from the outside cold to a heated indoor environment zaps your skin of its natural moisture. To combat the effects of winter weather, switch to a heavier moisturising cream. Look for products rich in hyaluronic acid, which helps bind water to your skin. Click here for your guide to HA-rich products.

3. Create a weather barrier
Before you venture out of the comfort of your home into the harsh elements, apply a protective skin barrier. After moisturising, smooth a breathable silicone based product over your skin, like Dermalogica UltraCalming Barrier Repair, $64, which shields against environmental assaults while prevents further damaging.

4: Mix your foundation with your moisturiser
If your skin is starting to shows signs of dryness you’ll struggle to achieve a flawless application. By mixing a liquid foundation with a few drops of moisturiser you’ll end up with a smoother finish and a boost of moisture in one hit.

5: Fake a warm glow with makeup
We all lose our natural glow when summer’s over, but bronzer can help us bring it back. During summer the sun causes a rosy effect on our skin but in winter we need to take a different approach. Embrace a yellow-brown based shade of bronzer for a light tint of colour. A subtle glow will look more natural in the cooler months., while anything with a lot of pink  undertones will highlight any redness (which is a common problem in winter).

Tip #6: Keep a hydrating mist on hand
A hydrating mist or toner will help keep your skin moist throughout the day: carry one in your handbag or keep it on your desk and spritz away when skin starts to feel tight. We like Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist, $47, which delivers immediate and long-term hydration to bring radiance back to dull skin.

7: Indulge in at-home facials
You’ve moisturised, exfoliated and applied a protective barrier to your skin but you’re still struggling to stay dewy. Once a week treat your skin to a luxe face mask that delivers extra nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, plant oils, shea butter and vitamin E. Pevonia Dry Skin Mask, $80, is formulated with a powerful mixture of super hydrating hyaluronic acid, saffron oil and vitamins A and E for an intense delivery of hydration.

by Chelsea Tromans

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