Rufus R. Noble The thing about the early signs that ageing is it kind of sneaks up on you. Your skin may appear bouncy, dewy, and wrinkle-free one day and then the Dermatologist arrives to tell you that your skin has sun damage. GREAT. I wish my 17-year-old self would have enjoyed my youth without dipping into Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. There are many things you can do to improve the texture and appearance of your skin. Here are my five steps:
FIVE-STEP TWENTY TO-THIRTY SKINCARE PLAN:
HY-D-R–A-T-E…
I know this is a common tip, and you may have already clicked the post to see that it was my first tip. But I cannot stress enough how vital drinking water is for your overall wellbeing as well as your skin’s appearance. The primary forehead wrinkle is a good indicator of how hydrated I am. It’s more noticeable if I haven’t been drinking enough water. The area around it will look dry. If I keep track of my water intake, it fills up more and looks deeper. I spend five minutes staring at it in the mirror, marvelling at its appearance. WATER IS THE TRUE SKIN, B.A.E.
Face masks are life
When I feel like my skin is rearranging, or if I appear to be a beautiful shade of grey, it dawns on me that I haven’t worn a face mask in a while. Face masks are, quite honestly, life-changing. Face masks are life-changing. They make your skin look brighter smoother and leave it in a better state than it was just 15 minutes ago. There aren’t many products that can achieve that. I have written a post about my favourite products. But, to protect my skin and provide the best care possible for it, I will increase my use of masks to at least twice per week. My skin looked amazing over the Christmas holidays. I used a mask every day. T.L.C. is a great investment, both short-term and long-term.
SPF
After doing one of those horrendous skin scans that make you look alien, I discovered that my sun-damage score is quite high. Although I thought I was good at sun protection, I suspect that my stupid teenage years spent trying to get a tan on Ayia Napa may have played a part in my high score. WELL DONE, ANGELEEN, YEARS OLD. For the past five years, I have worn SPF every day. But, I have been applying it more frequently and making sure to get it down to my neck. I have been slathering myself with sunscreen since I returned from vacation. I also reapply it often and use huge sunglasses to protect my eyes.
Sticking with the Routine
I used to test new products every day that samples arrived. Yet another day, another cleanser? Acids? Sprays? SPF? Let’s give them a try. Surprisingly, my skin was sensitive, red and angry at me for constantly introducing new products to it. Skin loves routine. It likes to know what’s up against. I now stick to the products that my skin loves and introduce new products in controlled environments (on its own and with everything else as a control). This is also true for when I travel. Instead of throwing away random travel items, I decant the ones I love so my skin doesn’t get thrown out of control as it does with everything else. I know which products work best for me, so I stick to my favourites. You can experiment with makeup, but you should stick to your skincare routine.
Dipping in Retinols
I recommend that you binge on Caroline’s 760-part retinol set. She takes a deep dive into the ingredients, formulas, and recommendations for different strengths. I found it so helpful. I currently use A313 Pommade* twice a week. I apply it after my skin is dry. I love how it feels and works. Caroline has some great suggestions. It’s okay if Hirons approves it–. We hope it doesn’t impede the growth of my forehead friendship wrinkle.
