The last two weeks of celebrations in 2014 were fun, but if all the merrymaking has left your skin looking a little dull and dehydrated (not to mention having to work on awkward Fridays after Christmas Day and the New Year, ugh) then you need to get your skin back on track with these five tips!
Zero + Maria Cornejo New York Spring 15
#1 EXFOLIATE
To get renewed skin, you first have to exfoliate. Get rid of the dead skin that’s clogging your pores with a scrub or a chemical exfoliant, it’ll speed up the skin renewal process and help skincare to absorb better.
If you enjoy using skincare and treating your skin at the end of the day, try Philosophy’s The Microdelivery Peel Kit. It smells amazing, just like oranges!
For sensitive skin ladies, go with the Cure Natural Aqua Gel. There are no exfoliating beads, so just let the gel sit on the skin for a minute and massage it gently in circular motions. You’ll start to see little “beads” of dead skin forming as the gel dries.
Super lazy girls (like me), use Peter Thomas Roth’s Un-wrinkle Peel Pads. Just swipe the pad onto your face and wait for a minute. Neutralise the peel by rinsing with water, and you’re done!
#2 MASK
Wind down with your favourite mask tonight and give your skin an intense dose of hydration.
Choose sheet masks with green tea, honey or aloe to soothe the face like these I Need You masks from Etude House, or a sleeping mask if you just can’t stay awake any longer.
Pop the sheet masks in the fridge to help with depuffing!
#3 MINI HOME SPA TRICK
Try this super quick K-beauty trick for an at-home spa experience, do this after you’re done with your skincare routine.
First, put a damp towel in the microwave for 20 seconds. Make sure the towel has no metallic elements to it (threads, beads and other embellishments) or risk starting a fire! I use the Innisfree Jeju Steam Towel, which is made for microwave use.
Then, put two pieces of cling wrap onto your face, one to cover the lower half (cheeks, chin and mouth), the other to cover the top half (forehead, eyes and nose). Remember to leave a gap at your nostrils so you can breathe.
Now, put the heated towel over the cling wrap and relax till the cloth cools. This method is said to help skincare to penetrate deeper into the skin and aid in blood circulation.
#4 EAT PROPERLY
Now when you feel tired, there’s one big urge to snack – don’t! You’ll hate yourself for feasting on chocolate and chips a few hours later. So if you absolutely need to munch on something, go for fruits that are high in antioxidants such as blueberries, cranberries and prunes. Don’t forget to drink water – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
#5 BRIGHTENING MAKEUP
You know what they say, sometimes you just have to fake it to make it.
Apply a thin layer of a lighter shade foundation or BB cream only on the inner sections of your face, such as your inner cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. This is an easy way to brighten your skin without wearing a whole face of makeup (K-beauty trick, no less).
Then use a highlighter – my go-to has got to be the YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch – and highlight the bottom of the eyes, the edge of the nose and the highest point of your cheeks. Finish with a brightening lip colour.
Put these tips to good use and say hello to refreshed skin the next morning!
Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel Kit, $109, is available at all Philosophy stores and Sephora. For more information, visit www.philosophyskincare.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.
Cure Natural Aqua Gel, $49, is available at Watsons. For more information, visit www.toyojapan.net/en and www.watsons.com.sg.
Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads, $81, is available at all Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.peterthomasroth.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Etude House I Need You Mask Sheet, $1.90 each, is available at all Etude House Singapore stores. For more information, visit www.etude.sg and follow Etude House on Facebook and Twitter.
Innisfree Jeju Steam Towel, $8, is available at all Innisfree stores. For more information, visit www.innisfree.co.kr/global, and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.
YSL Beaute Touche Eclat Radiant Touch, $55, is available at all YSL Beaute counters and the YSL Beaute store at Ion Orchard. For more information, visit yslbeauty.com/en-SG, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.