With the festive season kickstarting, glowing on the outside is just as important as the bubbling happiness and joy that we feel within. Taking care of your skin is the need of the hour, and with long, tiring, back-to-back parties and festivities, the skin is bound to react and/or riot. So, how do you really take good care of your skin? Here are some tips and tricks for you brought to you by Dr Manasi Shirolkar,:
Prep Your Skin
Prepping your skin is extremely important – it will help provide a smooth base for the application of any products and makeup. And if you plan to go makeup free, it will help you rock that look with grace!
Don’t Shy Away From Chemical Exfoliants
Using a good chemical exfoliant once a week will help increase the skin cell turnover, thus speeding up the process of shedding dead skin cells, which will ultimately lead to smoother and clearer-looking skin. AHAs and BHAs are good options, and using one would help you get glowing. Do start with a lower strength first, and slowly build up a tolerance, post which you can increase the percentage.
Vitamin C Is Your Bestie
Vitamin C is another great ingredient that will help your skin glow. Look for products containing L-Ascorbic Acid (great if you have pigmentation and want to look your brightest), or Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate//Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (ideal for sensitive and acne-prone skin to treat post-acne marks)
Sunscreen Is A MUST
Since you will be using chemical exfoliants and Vitamin C, but also, in general – do not skip out on sunscreen. Not only does sunscreen protect your skin from tanning and skin cancer, but it also works as the best anti-ageing product out there. Plus, if you’re using a silicone-based sunscreen, it can double up as a primer, whereas a tinted sunscreen can help hide some hyperpigmentation, and double up as a BB/CC cream or a concealer. What’s more, you can also use powdered sunscreen or a sunscreen stick for reapplication over your makeup, without ruining it!
Double Cleanse Without Fail
At the end of the day, it is important to double-cleanse your face, to rid it of any impurities, dirt, gunk or grime, that could lead to breakouts. Finish that with a soothing and hydrating toner, and a wonderful sleeping mask, and you are set to finish your day off well, with good, happy skin.
Watch Your Water Intake
Dehydrated skin is one of the most common grievances people tend to have during the festive season, especially if you have been drinking more than usual. While drinking water is one of the solutions to resolve this, it is not the only one. Add hydrating moisturisers, creams, toners or essences to your routine. Look for one suited to your skin types. Ingredients to look out for, for added hydration include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, petrolatum, squalane and lactic acid.
Keep The Acne At Bay
A festive season without sugar is impossible! And with sugar, and the overload of it, come breakouts. While yes, controlling our sugar intake is one thing, it isn’t always possible to do so, especially when you are surrounded by sweets. So, when the inevitable acne occurs, here’s what you can do: use a pimple patch so that it is concealed and treated at the same time. Use spot treatments such as Salicylic Acid gels or masks, Benzoyl Peroxide creams or face washes to help clear the acne away.
Beauty Sleep Isn’t A Myth
And finally, nothing can beat the wonders of a good night’s sleep, and taking very little to no stress, It can amaze you with not only its effectiveness for your overall well-being, as well as for your skin’s health. Beauty sleep is very much real, and that added with the above tips will ensure you are what glows brighter than any fairy lights and fireworks!
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