As our daily lives have shifted towards more virtual interactions and mask-wearing, our faces have become a prominent feature that demands attention. It’s important to prioritise healthy skin not just for a glowing appearance but also for our overall well-being.
However, visiting an esthetician regularly may not be feasible for everyone due to time or financial constraints. To help with this, local beauty experts have shared 10 beauty hacks for skincare that can be easily incorporated into your skincare routine at home. Additionally, a detailed guide on how to give yourself a face massage without any tools is included.
Use SPF daily, not just when you’re down the shore
Although the sun is a source of essential nutrients and vitamins for our bodies, it is important to protect our skin from overexposure all year round to maintain healthy skin, prevent premature ageing, and reduce the risk of skin cancer, according to our experts. Becky Fenlan, the practice coordinator at About Face Skin Care, suggests using products that already contain SPF, such as tinted moisturisers and powders, to avoid a greasy face. She advises checking the label to ensure that the product you are using includes SPF, and many oil-free options are so light that you won’t even notice you’re wearing it.
Another effective method to protect your skin from the sun is by using a vitamin C product, according to Viviane Aires, a local esthetician and founder of Viviane Aires Skin Wellness. While it can be challenging to remember to reapply SPF-containing products every few hours, Aires recommends using products that contain vitamin C to build immunity and provide protection against any harmful substances that may come in contact with your skin when the SPF has worn off.
Wash your face!
Although washing your face before bed might sometimes feel like an extra chore, it’s crucial not to skip this step. Our faces are exposed to countless bacteria throughout the day, but thankfully, our skin’s multiple layers act as a barrier, protecting us from harmful substances and removing toxins from our bodies, as explained by Jewellee Williams, owner of Crown Jewel Esthetics. Experts suggest cleansing your face twice at night, first with an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by your regular cleanser to eliminate any remaining impurities.
For a deeper cleanse, Tirzah Blair, owner of Kári Skin, recommends adding a small amount of clay to your cleanser or incorporating baking soda to enhance exfoliation. To ensure that skincare products penetrate the skin, she advises exfoliating two to three times a week.
Reduce inflammation the easy way
Many of us believe that washing our face with warm water helps to open our pores, but this method does not increase product absorption as commonly thought. Instead, Viviane Aires suggests splashing your face with cold water to remove toxins and stimulate the skin, which enhances product absorption and increases blood flow.
Cold products are also great for reducing inflammation, just like ice packs on an injury. To achieve this, Aires recommends storing beauty products like creams, moisturisers, face masks, and jade rollers in the fridge to keep them cold and better reduce inflammation. Tirzah Blair suggests using thinly sliced cucumbers on the eyes for 15 minutes to reduce inflammation, brighten, and de-puff the area, thanks to the hydrating nature and vitamin C in cucumbers. Alternatively, green tea or chamomile tea bags that contain caffeine can constrict blood vessels, reduce inflammation and brighten the eyes.
Stop picking!!!
Although watching videos of extractions online can be tempting, attempting at-home extractions can cause long-lasting damage, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation, according to our experts. Therefore, Jewellee Williams recommends avoiding this and instead suggests icing your blemishes.
How to massage your face like a pro?
If you want to achieve a glowing and lifted look, face massages can help increase blood flow, aid lymphatic drainage, and enhance nutrient circulation to vital organs, according to Viviane Aires. For a step-by-step guide, see below.
Step 1: Breathe
It’s important to take a break and relax. Our daily routine of constantly using devices such as phones, computers, and tablets can cause tension in our necks, which contributes to the lymphatic stagnation we may experience. To counteract this, taking three long breaths can send a signal to the brain, preparing our body for relaxation and releasing tension.
Step 2: Oil your face
Gently warm up some oil in your palms and apply it to your face, gradually moving downwards to your neck and décolleté area. Be careful to create a smooth glide to avoid any pulling of the skin that may lead to damage.
Step 3: Scissor fingers
Create a scissor shape with your index and middle fingers and place it around your ear, with the index finger below the earlobe and the middle finger above it. Gently massage the area in a circular motion to stimulate the lymph nodes and promote lymphatic drainage. Do this seven to 15 times while focusing on your breath. This also helps improve the absorption of skincare products.
Step 4: Knuckle sandwich
Using your index and middle fingers, bend your knuckles to make air quotes. With your fingers in this position, place them on your chin bone and move them upwards towards your ears, ending with the index finger knuckle below your earlobe. Do this three to five times to define your jawline and stimulate your glands. Repeat the same process but this time, sandwich your cheekbone between your knuckles and end with your middle finger towards your temple.
Step 5: Brow lift
To show some love to the acupressure points in your eyebrow area, run your knuckles along your brow bone, focusing on upward movements.
Step 6: Forehead
Moving from the centre of your forehead down towards your temple, move your fingers in a circular motion over the area, pulling gently upwards.
Step 7: Back to the neck
After completing the massage, gently apply a facial moisturiser on top of your face oil. Layering your skincare products in this way will yield the most effective results, as the massage helps to prepare your skin for optimal absorption.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, taking care of our skin is an essential part of our overall well-being. With the help of these simple beauty hacks and tips, achieving healthy and glowing skin at home can be easier than ever before.
By incorporating practices such as using SPF daily, washing our face, reducing inflammation, avoiding picking at blemishes, and implementing a regular face massage routine, we can improve the appearance and health of our skin. With a little time and effort, we can enjoy the benefits of radiant and healthy skin every day.