best for BEAUTY
Get a gorgeous complexion for less
1 MIND THE GAP
Skin is most vulnerable to dehydration immediately after washing your face and patting it dry, says aesthetician Renée Rouleau. ‘There’s a 60-second window before moisture evaporation occurs; applying your first product during this valuable period of time will seal hydration into the skin.’ If skin still feels tight, try switching your regular cleanser for an oilbased balm, which will nourish, rather than strip, as it cleanses. e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, £11, dissolves stubborn make-up with ease.
2 CLEAN UP!
Blemishes around the cheeks and jaw could be caused by holding grimy phones against your skin, warns dermatologist Sam Bunting. ‘Use alcohol-free and bleach-free wipes often to keep your phone clean,’ she says. And when blemishes do occur, a spot cure with salicylic acid will help control inflammmaton.
Sheets and pillowcases should be changed at least once a week – dead skin cells, oil and bacteria can build up on their surfaces and transfer back onto skin, causing breakouts.
3 SORT OUT YOUR STASH
Just how old is that face cream? Spend your next quiet night in taking stock of your products. If preservatives are no longer functioning because something’s been open too long, it can lead to irritation or even a bacterial infection. What’s more, the active ingredients that work hardest for your skin – the vitamin C in your serum, say – may have deteriorated, making application a waste of time. Look for the open jar symbol on the back of the product; this PAO (period after opening) refers to how many months the product is okay to use after breaking its seal.
4 EASE INTO VITAMIN A
Retinoids (chemicals derived from Vitamin A) have long been lauded as an ingredient proven to fight skin ageing but they can also cause irritation. Dermatologist Dr Elyse Love suggests applying a thin
