Unless you're one of those freaks of nature whose skin is bright, blemish-free and hydrated 365 days a year, you've probably had to endure things like acne, weird patches of dry skin and dullness at least once in your life. And while your cupboards might be full of bottles and tubs of skin care, that's not to say you've found the Holy Grail of products for your skin.
[post_ads]
Because here's the thing: your skin needs might not change as quickly as a KarJenner's hair colour, but over time you'll realise that the complexion you had in your teens is very different to the one in your twenties and thirties *sob*. While experts say consistency and finding the right formulations for your skin type is key, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to great skin. That said, when it comes to looking for active ingredients, there are some basic rules to follow.
1
Skin care doesn’t begin in your twenties and thirties. “I use an analogy when it comes to thinking about anti-aging: think about it the same way you think about diet. You don't start eating healthy foods in your fifties, right? The same goes with skin care. You should be doing things that are anti-ageing from the time you can buy your own products. Until the end of time,” says Desiree.
[post_ads]
2
We know we say it all the time, but sunscreen matters. “Sunscreen's obviously a huge one, especially for you guys here in Australia. As boring as it sounds, it’s the number one way to prevent ageing. Most people aren't applying it enough to really get the amount of protection that's stated on the label, so be good about that.”
3
Next up? The A and E (antioxidants and exfoliation) “Start to incorporate more antioxidants into your skin care regime, and then think about a routine from start to finish. I think a step that a lot of people are missing is exfoliation. Whether you want to look at it from an anti-ageing perspective, or just an overall healthier tone to your skin, exfoliation does so much. Not the gritty scrub exfoliation. I'm talking about AHA and BHA exfoliants. When you remove that built up dead layer of skin, you look so much younger. And when there's less dead skin, wrinkles don't show up as much.”
[post_ads]
4
Once you have your regime sorted, think about active ingredients. “There's not one single best ingredient, of course, but retinol is one of the powerhouses: it’s really great for so many different skin issues, whether it's adult acne, anti-ageing or anti-wrinkle. It helps with firming skin. If your skin can handle retinol, I think everybody should use it. But not everybody can tolerate retinol, you have to work your way up to it and be patient.”
“Niacinamide is another key ingredient. A tonne of research suggests it helps with evening out skin tone and it also helps with enlarged pores. It basically helps cells to function like they did when you were younger. It's not going to erase pores (our skin needs to breathe!), but it's definitely a great ingredient.”
[post_ads_2]
“There's also a lot of new research about how ceramides help your skin hold onto its own moisture better. Ceramides do a nice job of hydrating the upper layers of skin - right where you need it and right where you can visibly see it.”
5
Forget sexy packaging. “People get really into the hype of a certain brand being cool, but then maybe the formulas aren't that stellar. And [forget] thinking that expensive means better: it doesn't, necessarily. There are really great products at the drugstore that work amazingly and their formulas are pretty similar to their high-end counterparts.”
6
Got adult acne? There’s good and bad news. “It's so frustrating, it really is, but I think it just comes down to hormones. And stress, definitely. Plus, things like holding our [mobile] phones against our face. Diet also does play into it for some people, but not everybody. There are just so many different factors, it's hard to narrow it down and figure out what yours is.”
[post_ads_2]
7
Skin issues are more common than you think. “Acne is the most common complaint. It's also the one that's the most visible too. And then sensitive skin. I would say for younger women those are the two that come up the most.”
Courtesy Pty Ltd.
