#WOOSHAPPROVED: HEALTHIER-LOOKING SKIN IS YOURS WITH THESE BEAUTY MUST-HAVES
Great skin doesn’t come naturally to some people. Scratch that, it doesn’t come naturally to anyone. Because, the truth is, skin perfection doesn’t really exist in the real world. From dark, under eye circles to hormonal breakouts, everyone has their skin gripes. And if you think we’re sounding like a total Debbie Downer right now, you couldn’t be more wrong because the non-existence of perfect skin is actually a good thing. After all, if nobody has perfect skin, then you don’t need to worry about your little imperfections!
That being said, doing the best for your skin is crucial if you want your skin to do its best back. Here are our current favorite ways to do just that.
The Scary-Looking But Oh-So-Skin-Brightening Face Mask
This might look like some kind of Halloween movie prop gone wrong but don’t freak because once you try this Cryo Rubber Brightening Mask from Dr. Jart+ you’ll never look back.
Inspired by cryotherapy which works with cold temperatures to treat and heal, this two-step treatment uses a rubber mask made from a blend of seaweeds to cool and condition your skin. Simply smooth the concentrated serum of niacinamide and vitamin C all over your face first, then seal it in by placing the rubber mask over the top. Relax for 30-40 minutes then wait while your skin temperature lowers and things like dullness, puffiness and tired-looking skin become a distant memory.
The Does-It-All Makeup Kit
It’s tempting to wear makeup in spades as the weather gets colder and your skin loses its summer radiance. But is this wise? We don’t think so. Nor is it really necessary. Instead, we simply swear by our Fold Out Complexion® Kit which is low-key perfection for beautiful skin.
Containing two creamy concealers to fade out ‘those’ areas, plus a gorgeous shimmer to highlight your best bits, it also comes pre-filled with two curated powder foundations to ensure you get your shade spot on as your skin changes with the weather. PS: you can even mix things up by swapping out one of your foundation powders for a new Bronzer refill to truly get your glow on.
The Skin-Friendly Exfoliant
Exfoliation is one of the best ways to effectively brighten your skin while boosting cellular turnover and accelerating collagen production. You see, cell turnover slows down as you age which is a one-way ticket to rough texture, uneven tone and crummy-looking skin.
We know you’d rather not deal with any of that so to help keep this process ticking along nicely gently polish up with Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant. Once you get over the almost magical way it transforms from powder into foam on contact with water you’ll be blown away by how soft and smooth your skin is after use. That’s all thanks to awesome ingredients like oats, coconut milk, grape extract and papaya.
The Best Place To Get Your Vitamin C
Let’s face it, when it comes to topical ingredients proven to help brighten your skin, they don’t get much better than vitamin C. One of the most clinically researched antioxidants around, vitamin C fights uneven skin tone and pesky dark spots by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting melanin production. That’s a pretty impressive resumé if you ask us and it’s one of the main reasons we’re huge fans of TruSkin Vitamin C Facial Serum. The fact that this daily serum also contains soothing vitamin E, hydrating aloe and skin-rejuvenating botanicals isn’t lost on us either.
The Supps That Don't Actually Suck
Collagen is the absolute foundation of strong, supple, healthy-looking skin but, as previously mentioned, your supplies of collagen seriously dwindle as you hit age 30 and beyond. So, if you’re not down with Father Time screwing up your collagen mojo, you might want to try Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen Sachets.
We’re not going to lie to you, the efficacy of collagen supplements is still up in the air as studies continue and the market becomes saturated with substandard formulations out for a quick buck. But that being said, most experts agree that if you invest in marine-sourced collagen that’s been broken down into smaller molecules to make it more easily absorbed by the body, you’re onto a winner. These beauty editor-approved powder sachets check both of these boxes. With flying colors.
The Way To Fake a Vacay Glow
Even the name of Isle Of Paradise Sunny Serum Instant Face Bronzer is enough to bring a healthy glow to your face. But don’t worry, this ‘sunshine in a bottle’ illuminating serum is not all style and no substance: thankfully, it also works!
Lightweight, buildable and with just the right amount of color to leave your skin looking like a more glowy version of itself, it works on all skin types, brighten all skin tones and even helps to reduce redness and dark spots. Think of it as your new secret weapon to year-round gorgeousness.
The Primer With The Most
If there was a prize for the most hardworking beauty product that blurs the lines between skincare and makeup, while crushing everything but the dishes, our Pre.Face™ Primer would get it – hands down. Chock full of skin-loving ingredients like baobab seed oil and hyaluronic acid, this priming cream not only hydrates and cares for winter skin but it gives your makeup the smoothest base to grip on to. The result? Effortlessly even-looking skin and makeup that goes the distance.
The Simple Tool That Delivers Everything
Heard about face rolling but not sure what on earth it’s about? Well, it’s actually very simple. Face rollers are small, manual tools that gently massage your face to decrease puffiness, ease tension, stimulate blood flow and get your lymphatic system moving. They also have a calming, colling effect on the skin which is a great anti-stress tool. Sounds like your kind of bag? Then try the classic Herbivore Stone Facial Roller which is made from a type of ethically sourced jade called aventurine.
Apply a few drops of facial oil to cleansed skin first, then glide your roller over the skin in short strokes starting at the center of your face and working outwards. We like to do it before bed as part of our nighttime ritual. But, obviously, you do you.
The Ultimate Skin Wake-Up Call
One ingredient that’s non-negotiable as your skin matures and becomes less youthful-looking than it used to be (sigh) is retinol. We’re sure you’ve heard that before but it’s a fact: retinol works. We won’t go all ‘science class’ on you, but know that retinol has been proven time and again to communicate with your skin on a cellular basis, boosting collagen production, accelerating cell turnover and improving the look and feel on your skin on so many levels we’d be here all day going through them all. We won’t do that. Instead, see the results for yourself by adding PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Retinol Treatment to your skincare routine. It’s one of the best, plus it’s less likely to cause irritation than other retinol products (and trust us, we’ve tried a LOT!).
The Moisture-Locker-Inner
We get it, facial oils can be kind of intimidating. If you have oily or combination skin, the last thing you feel like dousing all over your face is an oil. Even if you have dry or relatively ‘normal’ skin the risk of triggering breakouts often outweighs the potential benefits of a facial oil. However, do your research, choose the right formulation and you may find that an oil is exactly what your skin has been crying out for.
Take Naked & Thriving Rejuvenate Face Oil, for example. Blended with a whole bunch of nutrient-rich plant oils such as rosehip, argan, lavender, rosemary and pomegranate seed, this all-natural beauty works hard to fight environmental damage while locking in moisture and reducing the visible signs of aging. It’s a veritable winter skin must-have.
