Overdone it with your regime? Hit reset with these fixes
WORDS: RHIANNON DERBYSHIRE. PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY
Dry, peeling skin
✱ The culprit: High-intensity retinoids
✱ The solution: Retinol is an anti-ageing ‘wonder ingredient’, but it’s potent and can cause sensitivity when you’re using it in high concentrations. If your skin is suffering, don’t feel like you have to power through – take a break and let your complexion recover before picking it back up again. Focus on repairing your skin barrier – we always turn to ultra-soothing La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, £15, Boots when our skin is in need of some TLC.
Weak, flaky nails
✱ The culprit: Back-to-back maintenance manicures
✱ The solution: It may be boring, but it’s important to take a break in between your salon manicures, especially if you get gels or acrylics, as they can really weaken nails. Take a break of at least a week in between appointments to help them recover from the tools, chemicals and filing. Apply a strengthener on these ‘off’ weeks – OPI Nail Envy £21.90, John Lewis, is the gold standard used by those in the know.
Greasy, limp hair
✱ The culprit: Overloading styling products
✱ The solution: Leave-in conditioners, salt sprays and styling products can build up on your hair and scalp, so use a clarifying shampoo like Noughty Detox Dynamo Clarifying Shampoo, £6.99, sephora.co.uk, once a week to give a deep-clean. It’ll look clearer and bouncier, and also create a better canvas for your other products.
Frizzy, dry hair and damaged ends
✱ The culprit: Daily heat styling
✱ The solution: Minimise blow-drying, tongs and straighteners as much as possible. This can be tricky if you’re devoted to your dryer, but a simple way of cutting down is to wash your hair less often. Your secret weapon is a good dry shampoo – we love Andrew Fitzimonds Discreet AF Dry Shampoo, £9, Boots – even ‘day-four’ hair looks freshly washed after a spritz. Taking steps to reduce potential damage pre-styling is also important – try VO5 Heat Protect Spray, £5.59, Superdrug.
Inflamed, red skin
✱ The culprit: Over-exfoliation
✱ The solution: Exfoliating is a great way of removing dead skin and leaving a smoother, softer complexion, but it’s surprisingly easy to overdo it. Gritty scrubs, especially, ar
