Dehydrated skin, irritation, or your first fine lines don’t just mean applying more moisturiser – they could signal a whole new change for your beauty and skin care regime.
Take our quiz, answering A, B or C to each question, then tot up your scores to discover if your skin care needs a shake-up.
Q1. Do you worry about wrinkles and fine lines?
a) I’m starting to – I’ve spotted a few crow’s feet around my eyes. Sob.
b) Not really – it’s dry spots and irritation that concern me more.
c) Wrinkles? I still have to remind myself to take my make-up off at night.
Q2. What’s your usual skin care regime?
a) I cleanse and moisturise religiously – that’s all my skin needs.
b) A quick foaming face wash followed by the richest cream I have.
c) Good old face wipes and my favourite face lotion.
Q3. How does your skin look and feel after cleansing?
a) Okay, although it’s a little dry around my eyes and mouth.
b) Fairly taut around the cheeks and a bit uncomfortable.
c) A bit red but it’s nothing a splash of cold water won’t calm down.
Q4. When was the last time you bought a new skin care product?
a) When I spotted my first fine lines a few months ago.
b) Does my bumper bottle of body butter count?
c) Umm… I’ve been buying the same moisturiser since my teens!
Q5. What would you really like to change about your skin?
a) Where do I start? Crow’s feet, redness and blemishes all bother me.
b) I’ve a few dry patches that just won’t budge no matter what.
c) I’d love fresher, brighter skin but I don’t know where to start.
Mostly As
We hate to break it to you, but it’s time to start investing in some anti-ageing skin care! Experts recommend you start from your mid to late 20s to ward off the first fine lines, although if you’re late to the party, adopting an anti-ageing routine now will still have benefits.
Start with a moisturiser with an SPF30 and use it religiously. You’ll also need a serum or treatment with high levels of AHA’S (alpha-hydroxy acids) to rejuvenate, and antioxidants to help protect skin cells from oxidative stress.
A daily moisturiser which contains glycolic acid, collagen and antioxidants is ideal. At bedtime, a moisturiser packed with essential oils like rose otto or argan will help soothe and replenish.
Mostly Bs
Even though you love your summer moisturiser, you need to make a switch in winter because lighter lotions just won’t do the job. Low humidity levels, central heating and cold winter weather can have a detrimental effect on your skin, triggering rough patches and redness that may be tricky to treat.
Switching to the cream version of your usual cleanser can work wonders; foaming cleansers can strip your skin of its natural oils leaving it feeling taut and uncomfortable. Moisturisers packed with natural oils like almond, olive or jojoba can help soothe dry spots too.
It goes without saying that you need to protect your skin with an SPF but if your skin needs more care and attention, moisturisers with humectants that prevent water loss, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and AHAs are your best bet.
Mostly Cs
If you’ve been using the same skin care for decades, you’ve got some serious updating to do! Brands are constantly developing new products containing new ingredients, and they’re likely to be a huge step-up from what you, and your skin, are used to.
It’s also worth remembering that the needs of our skin change over the years – what might have been right for your skin ten years ago, might not work so well now. As you age, your skin’s regeneration process starts to slow down and a dull, dry complexion with a few fine lines is the fallout.
So where should you start? A hard working moisturiser is the backbone of any great skin care regime. Look for one with high levels of antioxidants, skin hydrators and soothing ingredients – think rose, pomegranate and vitamin E – and start using it every day.
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