How to Make 2016 Your Best Skin Year Yet

A New Year inspires new beginnings and new routines. So this year, why not make a fresh start with your skin care? Try our five tried-and-tested skin care habits for a glowing complexion all year long.

1. 365 DAYS OF SPF
Sun exposure is the main accelerator of ageing, which makes sunscreen the ultimate anti-ager. But that doesn’t mean you should put away the SPF as soon as the sun goes in; you should be wearing it 365 days a year.

Studies indicate that over 70% of the sun exposure you get in a lifetime is happening when you least expect it – like when you’re sat by a window or walking to the car. What’s more, UV rays damage ceramides (the good fats in your skin that prevent dryness), so SPF will keep your skin well hydrated too. Convinced?

2. KEEP IT CLEAN
Leaving your makeup on overnight can trap ageing free radicals onto your skin as you sleep, as well as clogging your pores, which can lead to breakouts. You also want to get rid of the day’s dirt and pollution, so be sure to always cleanse before bedtime. Why, you may ask, do you then need to wash your face again when you wake up? The answer is simple: cleansing your face in the morning will remove toxins, oil and dead skin cells that build-up on your skin while you sleep.

Take your cleansing routine to the next level and invest in a cleansing brush. It’s a deeper exfoliating technique that will whip away pollution and dirt. Don’t see washing your face as a chore, but as a key step to getting the skin you’ve always wanted!

”The skin is the body's largest organ and our first line of defence against the environment."

3. SUPPLEMENT WITH A SERUM
Perhaps you already use a moisturising cream, but have you added a serum to your skin care routine yet? Here’s why you should: serums boost radiance, target fine lines, lift the skin, enhance the efficacy of your other products – need we go on? Because they have a higher concentration of active ingredients and a water-based formula, they can penetrate the skin faster and deeper. If you cut down on alcohol, sugar and salt too, you’re a few steps closer to more radiant-looking skin.

4. GET TO KNOW YOUR NIGHT TIME PRODUCTS
Performing a nighttime specific routine can help repair your skin and control the rate at which it ages. While you sleep your skin gets to work recovering from a day of battling environmental aggressors, so after you cleanse and tone, make a good-habit of applying a restorative night cream. Look for one that suits your needs, for example if you’re targeting the first signs of ageing, try True Perfection, or if sagging skin is a concern opt for Ultimate Lift

5. SUPPLEMENT YOUR SKIN CARE
The skin is the body's largest organ and our first line of defence against the environment. It defends us from microorganisms, UV rays, heat, water and pollution, so it’s important to keep it healthy. To do this, you need a balanced diet that includes vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (amongst other things). Omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in oily fish or as a supplement, keep our skin healthy and hydrated. But fish oil isn’t the only thing from the ocean that can improve your skin: Astaxanthin is a pigment found in algae and in Pacific salmon – it’s what gives salmon its pinkish colour. A daily supplement improves elasticity, hydration, and reduces wrinkles.

Hello 2016, hello to the best skin of your life!

Words by: Photographs by: Fotolia, Oriflame