BEAUTY
HEALTHY
SKIN FOR
SPRING
Follow Laura Butlin-
Policarpo's tips and tricks to
achieve healthy spring skin
W
ith
the
unpredictable
weather winter has brought
us this year, it’s been hard
to know how to keep our
skin looking its best. If
you’ve been out and about, the combination
of unexpected sunshine and cold winds might
have left an impression. And if you’ve worked
extra hours at the offi ce, the central heating has
probably not done your skin any good. Th ese all
act as disrupters; dullness, breakouts, irritation.
Th is, in turn, dries your skin out, I believe a
lot of skin problems stem from dehydration.
However, simply slathering on a thick cream is
probably not going to make things any better.
To better focus on hydrating and protecting
your skin, exfoliation is key. Exfoliating is
important, as it will help remove any dead
skin cells and prevent build-up from clogging
your pores. I’m not encouraging you to use
a scrub daily but a mild formula once or
twice a week can be a great addition to your
skincare routine. On the other hand, if a
manual scrub isn’t your thing, a chemical
exfoliant is a must. Th ere are so many on the
market now with a variety of acid/enzymes and
percentages to suit all, just do some research.
Now you can focus on hydration. Th e reason
simply slathering on a thick cream won’t work
is because moisturisers don’t moisturise. I know,
bold statement, but hear me out. Th ey lock in
the moisture from the previous skincare you’ve
applied. Moisturisers are often too thick to
penetrate the skin's surface but they are the
perfect barrier to prevent moisture evaporating.
What should you use? A hydrating serum is
a much better option. Look for something
packed full of hyaluronic acid. Th e skin
naturally produces hyaluronic acid; one gram
has the ability to hold up to 6 litres of water,
with the added ability to be able to regulate
moisture within the cells. You can apply this
to damp skin and follow it with an essence
or oil for a serious punch. Or top with your
regular moisturiser to lock the hydration in.
You’ve heard it before but SPF, daily. Protecting
your skin from ultraviolet rays isn’t just
88
something you need to remember in the
summer months, or when you can feel
the sun. Th e damaging UVA and UVB
rays are present every day and can cause
skin cancer as well as sun damage and
aging. Not all sun creams are thick
and greasy; there are plenty that you
won’t even notice you're wearing. Just
be sure to look for a broad spectrum,
water-resistant product with a sun
protection factor of 15 – 30.
And lastly, few of us are guilty of
drinking too much water. Drinking
enough water every day on a
consistent basis is not only important
for your skin's health but also for
your digestion, circulation, and overall
health. You can see quite easily if you need
to up your intake. Th e lack of hydration
will present itself as dryness, tightness,
or your skin may even be slightly fl aky.
Hopefully, all these tips and tricks will
either reinforce things you already know
or will have you adopting a new habit to
transform your skin.
The Ordinary
Hyaluronic
Acid £5.15,
Skinceuticals
Ultra Facial
UV Defense
SPF 50 £37,
REN Ready
Steady Glow
Daily AHA
Tonic £21.90