As this writer knows all too well, a couple of weeks of festive fun in the sun does wonders for the soul and one’s mental health, but all the poolside shenanigans, seemingly endless sunscreen application and sandcastle building on the beach don’t leave one’s skin the best shape.
That’s the bad news. The good news? A January well spent on the skincare front can do wonders for your ability to put your best face forward in the new year. So, let’s talk about the two main complexion-compromising culprits (and what you can do about them): Pigmentation and dull, rough skin.
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF POST-HOLIDAY PIGMENTATION
First thing's first, don’t fixate on the mask of melasma that you brought back from the beach or the bush with you. You made memories with loved ones that will last a lifetime. That stuff is permanently etched on your heart. With the proper at-home skincare regime products for a couple of months, the "animal print" on your face won’t be.
Here are three of the products/ranges we recommend for reducing the appearance of pigmentation and getting your pre-holiday glow back so you can get back to taking those makeup-free selfies with the glow-getter confidence you know and love all too well as a Skin Renewal regular…
NEOSTRATA
NeoStrata Enlighten Dark Spot Corrector is a very active gel formulation that targets age spots and hyperpigmentation. Suitable as a nighttime treatment for skin types that can tolerate the activity of fruit acids, this product starts off by gently exfoliating your skin and improving cellular turnover to brighten dull skin.
- Gluconolactone and Lactobionic Acid reduce the excess production of melanin.
- Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid and Kojic Acid reduce the appearance of stubborn pigmentation marks.
- Liquorice extract, Antioxidant chelators and Ascorbic Acid even your skin tone, preventing new pigmentation from forming.
LAMELLE
Consisting of the Luminesce Brightening Cleanse, Brighter Day, Evening Glow night cream and Brightening Defense SPF30, the Lamelle Luminesce range addresses hyperpigmentation by reducing melanin production at several points in its production (before, during and after melanin synthesis) thanks to its unique blend of 15 different depigmentation agents. As an added bonus, this range boasts brilliant results in combating epidermal hyperpigmentation and stimulating fibroblast activity, which makes these products an anti-ageing solution.
NEORETIN
Suitable for skins that don’t tolerate Hydroquinone (HQ), NeoRetin is a daily skin brightening regimen for melasma, UV damage, or post-inflammatory pigmentation made up of two products – a night serum NeoRetin Serum Booster Fluid and a daytime gel cream NeoRetin GelCream SPF 50.
- Exfoliating properties help to diminish surface pigmentation to create more clear, brighter complexion.
- Retinsphere technology (a new delivery system) helps lessen Retinol's irritation.
SKIN HIT A BIT OF A ROUGH PATCH?
Regarding exposure to the elements, while the end-of-year holiday is the favourite time of the year for many of us, it’s not a favourite time of year for our skins. All that sand-crusted sunscreen mixed with salty sea water, beach walks and glittery Christmas party makeup can cause our skins to look dull. When the natural hydration moves out, the rough patches move in.
Getting your skin back to its pre-holiday complexion can be smooth sailing. All you need is the right products, some new year’s resolution commitment and a trip to our online skin shop. That being said, all the options can be daunting, so we’ve narrowed our wide range to four products to get you started:
STEP 1: CLEANSE & EXFOLIATE
NeoStrata Skin Active Exfoliating Wash is a comprehensive anti-ageing cleanser that prepares the skin for maximum treatment benefits and cleanses without irritation, stimulating cell turnover, which, with regular use, improves texture and enhances clarity.
STEP 2: PROTECT & REPAIR
SkinCeuticals Serum 10 is a beautiful antioxidant serum that contains a synergistic combination of L-Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to reduce signs of premature ageing while protecting your skin against environmental damage. We love that it’s gentle, too. Making it suitable for those with sensitive and less tolerant skin types.
STEP 3: REMODEL & RESTORE
Lamelle Correctives RA Cream "cleans out" the damage and gets ageing skin back in shape by preparing the skin for remodelling and restoring photodamage. With its high Retinoid concentration, this product revitalises declining retinoid activity – which is essential in restoring normal skin functioning and achieving youthful, healthy skin.
A great motivational saying goes, "Do it for the person you want to be a year from now". Well, with December in our rearview mirror and our sights set on a goal-smashing 2023, when it comes to your skincare regime, we say: DO IT FOR THE SKIN YOU WANT A YEAR FROM NOW.