Let it Glo
By Danielle Hadley
The start of winter doesn’t mean you have to let go of that sun-kissed
summer radiance; beat dull lacklustre skin with just a few easy tweaks
to your beauty routine and get ready to glow, glow, glow…
Radiant skin is in and this trend doesn’t look
set to change for a while, with sales of highlighting powders and brightening serums continually on the rise. The ultimate marker for
how healthy and youthful you are, glowing skin
has been re-worked and re-named many times
by the beauty Gods but one thing always
remains the same – it seems to disappear during
the colder months.
The reasons for your depleted glow are many,
ranging from pore-clogging pollution and too
much stress to a lack of vitamins in your diet
and poor exfoliation, so what can be done?
Well, like the causes of your sallow complexion,
there are many ways to rediscover your summer
glow, even in the depths of winter.
Let’s Start with the Skin
Tackling a dull, lacklustre complexion requires
dedication, as uneven pigmentation and a lack
of radiance won’t suddenly correct themselves
overnight. Exfoliation is key and you should
start by using either an AHA-based solution
or a physical scrub at least twice a week to rid
the skin of dead cell build-up on the surface.
This regular removal process means the fresh
healthy cells residing below this dead layer are
exposed, revealing the clear luminous skin
below and creating a smoother surface which
makes the skin better at reflecting light. And
the more light-reflective your skin is, the more
radiant it will appear.
For stubborn pigmentation, you need to
address the problem deep-down by using
melanin controlling serums to curb the synthesis of the pigment that is causing uniformity problems at the surface. Look for ingredients that work beneath the surface such as
Kojic Acid, Liquorice Extract, and Ellagic Acid
for effective and safe melanin suppression but
don’t disregard topical brightening ingredients
like Retinol and Vitamin C, as they can take
care of the superficial discolouration and
damage which is making your complexion look
uneven in tone.
Don’t Forget to Sweat
As the old adage goes, it’s not just about what
you do on the outside that makes a difference
to your skin. Support all the hard work done
by your topical products by including more
vitamins in your diet, especially free radical
fighters like Vitamin C, to improve your internal health. Keeping the body properly hydrated will not only quench your skin’s thirst but
will help to plump up dehydration lines and
cushion slack areas, giving the skin a smoother, more light-reflective surface that creates the
appearance of Instagram-filtered skin.
Another important glow-boosting trick is to
ISSUE #02 | WINTER 2016 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 10