If you’ve found yourself in a beauty rut and want to see serious results when it comes to your skincare regimen, 2019 might be the year to try something new.
Have More Fun With Your Beauty
Lochie Stonehouse, the national make-up artist for YSL and Giorgio Armani, suggests paring everything else back to give yourself some room to experiment. “My advice is to continue the ‘less is more’ approach, even after the holiday period,” he says. “After wearing less make-up for a few weeks, you’ll begin to feel more comfortable having the world see your freckles and less made-up face,” Stonehouse says by removing a few steps from an already overwhelming routine, you can have more time to experiment with brighter lipsticks, glosses, radiant cream highlighters and other techniques. “When we do this, we have more time to play with products that are more fun. We’re allowing room for the fresh and the new.”
Go Natural
Thanks to the overwhelming plethora of often contradictory information out there, going green with your beauty routine can be easier said than done. “If you try reading the back of products labelled natural or eco or organic in a chemist, you may be wading through hundreds of cleverly named nasties and finding that most products are semi-natural with a few real nasties; or pesticide free but laden with toxic chemicals,” says Jenna Mullinger, founder of Oh Natural. If you’re just making the switch to natural-based beauty, Mullinger says to consider which products make the most contact with your skin and go from there. “Definitely begin by swapping your body moisturiser, facial serum, moisturiser and cleanser,” she advises. “Think about trying a natural deodorant as your skin is one incredibly absorbent organ.” From there Mullinger says to think about using a natural mascara and eyeliner to keep your eyes safe, and natural nail polish and foundation.
Think About the Impact your Routine has on the Environment
Plastic microbeads, which can be found in everything from exfoliators to body scrubs and toothpaste, might now be banned in New Zealand but there are still plenty of steps you can take to reduce the impact your beauty routine has on the planet. For a start, it might pay to reconsider summer beauty staple, sunscreen, 2019 as more research is revealing that certain ingredients are having a negative impact on sea life. The Republic of Palau, which is home to some of the world’s best dive spots, recently banned reef-toxic sunscreen ingredients, including oxybenzone, methylparaben, and ethylparaben, from 2020. From 2021, Hawaii will ban sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate and much closer to home, Fijian resort Leleuvia has banned its guests from using sunscreens containing the two ingredients creams after studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate cause bleaching, deformities and DNA damage in coral. Choosing products that utilise plastic alternatives and minimise water wastage is a great place to start and homegrown plastic-free beauty pioneer Ethique offers a sustainably minded solution to everything from self-tanner to face serum and shampoo.
Update Your Approach to Exfoliation
Exfoliating plays a significant role in skin health by sloughing away dead, dull skin cells to reveal a glowing radiant complexion. But you can forget about the harsh, gritty microbead-packed scrubs of yesteryear. Best-selling author and beauty myth buster Paula Begoun says that gentle facial scrubs – think of the ocean and stick to those that a free of microbeads – are best for extra cleansing. Instead, reach for an alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids Begoun suggests. “The benefits from a leave-on AHA (alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic acid) or BHA (salicylic acid) are amazing for numerous skin
concerns,” she explains. The list these miracle acids can work wonders on includes wrinkles, uneven skin tone, redness, breakouts, clogged and enlarged pores, and dehydration according to Begoun. AHAs and BHAs work by gently ungluing bonds that hold dead skin cells together. The result is a glowing, smooth, more even complexion. “Adding this type of product to your morning or evening skincare routine can make a world of difference,” Begoun says. To make the most out of your updated exfoliation routine Begoun says always follow it with targeted boosters or treatment products containing high concentrations of specific well-researched ingredients that can address your specific skincare concerns.
Overhaul Your Skincare Routine
Thanks to the plethora of skincare products launching on an almost daily basis, figuring out what really needs to be included in your routine can be tricky business. But if you are making 2019 the year to get serious about your skincare Dr Ellen Selkon from Clinic 42 says there are a few steps all of us should be taking. “In the morning you should be using a good vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and a moisturiser and then in the evening vitamin A, B3 and moisturiser,” she says. Seeking professional advice is a great way to take your skin health to the next level Selkon explains. “Get to know a good dermal therapist and go for regular treatments, this way they can assess your skin on a regular basis and update your skincare as required.”
Then Stick to it
Exfoliation plays a key role in If it’s your 2019 beauty goal to see real results from your skincare then investing in the right skin care is only the first part of the equation. Real results take time and skipping a day or two definitely won’t help you achieve your healthy skin goals. “Consistency in your daily routine is key,” explains Tracey Beeby, global skin educator for Ultraceuticals. “Cleansing and applying your relevant serums targeted at your skin concerns is important to gain results,” she says. And while in-clinic facial treatments are important, Beeby says that 80 per cent of your desired skin results is from daily homecare products. “Make it a New Year’s resolution to always apply sunscreen every day, cleanse your face before bed no matter how tired you are and even on holidays, never skip your daily routine.”
Eat Better for Great Skin
You can slather on as many potions and lotions as you like but healthy resilient skin starts from the inside. Cleaning up your diet can go along way towards helping you achieve your skin goals. Abbie O’Rourke, nutritionist and owner of Feel Fresh Nutrition, suggests staying away from anything that’s processed and isn’t real food. “I believe that our skin health comes from our gut and that the state of our skin is representative of our gut health,” O’Rourke explains. She says commonplace additives such as emulsifiers have been shown to exacerbate the lining of the gut wall. “Choosing foods that are made out of real foods do incredible things for the skin.” O’Rourke says supplements can help too and recommends zinc and omega fatty acids. “If your immune system is down that can show up in your skin. Zinc supports immune function and wound healing.”
