Skin Health Magazine Issue #7 / Spring 2018 | Page 13

HOW TO...
Outsmart Your Skin
I
magine if you could predict your breakouts
before they happened or could pre-empt
a delicate complexion before the morning
after the night before. This Minority Re-
port-style of complexion management isn’t as
futuristic as it might sound; anyone can get
the better of their skin, you just have to be
smart about it.
Feeling Hormonal
When it comes to that time of the month, you’d
be very lucky to make it through your period
without battling with at least one huge, painful
pimple. In the week before your period, your
hormone levels dramatically increase, meaning
oil production goes into overdrive and your
pores struggle to keep up with their regular
self-cleaning processes, which leads to block-
ages and blemishes. Be ready for any kind of
hormonal breakout by cleansing the skin thor-
oughly twice a day and using products to keep
the pores as clear as possible; look for products
that contain a generous amount of Salicylic
Acid and start using a clay or charcoal-based
face mask in the week before your period.
Bingeing on Junk
Nobody plans a junk food binge, but there are
ways to curb the effect one can have on your
complexion. Sugar can damage the skin’s DNA
and speed up the ageing process, making the
skin look grey and flat, so on the days follow-
ing your indulgent snack session, apply a mois-
turiser or seru m packed with AGE-inhibiting
ingredients. AGEs or Advanced Glycation End
products are proteins or lipids (namely collagen)
that have become glycated as a result of being
exposed to sugar. This weakens the collagen
molecule and makes it prone to damage, which
can ultimately lead to a loss in skin volume and
an increase in fine lines. The more healthy,
un-glycated collagen molecules that are avail-
able within the skin, the better chance it has
at staying smooth and plump.
Too Much Fun
A skin hangover is never fun but you can
prevent a dry, puffy, tender complexion by
treating your skin with the same care and at-
tention you would your fuzzy head. Everyone
has their own personal hangover cure – a
bacon sandwich, painkillers, avoiding loud
noises – but there is a more universal treatment
for partied out skin: hydration. Alcohol dehy-
drates the body and drains it of Vitamin A,
which is needed for healthy cell turnover,
which is why skin always looks dull and feels
dry after a night out, so focus on getting as
much moisture back into the skin as possible.
That means drinking plenty of water, going
overboard on the Hyaluronic Acid – bathe in
the stuff if you have to – and using comforting
creams to bring some life back into your face.
Being Beside the Seaside
Despite decades of warnings, people are still
surprised when a day spent at the beach leaves
them with a red, itchy complexion. Don’t be
one of these people. Instead, arm yourself with
a high factor, broad spectrum sunscreen that
suits your skin type. That means using some-
thing creamy if you have dry skin, something
lightweight and gel-textured if you have oily
skin, and something thin and fluid-like if you
have sensitive skin. Apply it throughout the day
and avoid the sun during the hottest part of the
day (around 11am until 3pm) to prevent inflam-
mation and burning. Sunshine = 0 You = 1.
ISSUE #07 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 13