Taking care of your skin should be your number one beauty priority. Whether it’s dryness and flaking or oiliness and blemishes (or anything in between) – if your skin isn’t looking its best, your confidence can really take a hit (and sometimes no amount of make-up trickery can help you feel better). No matter what your daily skin care routine looks like, there are a few essentials that have to be in your repertoire to properly nourish your skin. So, let’s go back to beauty school and take note of bh’s top-to-toe skin care staples.
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Face: Good quality cleanser and sunscreen
If there’s two products that every girl needs, regardless of her skin type, it’s a decent cleanser and sunscreen. Emma Hobson, Education Manager at The International Dermal Institute, explains the importance of cleansing the skin. “Cleansing removes the dirt, grime, dead skin, excess skin oils, make-up and sunscreen off the surface of the skin, preventing congestion, breakouts, dull, rough textured skin and even in the long term, premature ageing.” Yep, it’s pretty much a skin care powerhouse.
bh tip: If you wear long-wearing sunscreen and make-up, double cleanse your skin morning and evening to ensure a deeper clean.
As for sunscreen, it’s a no brainer and Emma sums it up perfectly. “Sunscreen is absolutely critical to protect your skin from the ravaging effects of UV rays. It’s the best protective and anti-ageing product on the market.” If that doesn’t convince you to add sunscreen to your daily skin care routine, I don’t know what will!
Underarms: Nourishing deodorant
You probably didn’t even think of deodorant as a skin care staple, am I right? Well, when you think about it, the skin under our arms can go through a lot on the reg – think sweaty gym sessions, shaving (sometimes dry shaving – eek!), laser treatments and exposure to drying ingredients. And I bet when you moisturise, you don’t spread it right up to the skin under your arms, even though it’s in desperate need of nourishment. That’s why it’s super important to use a specially-formulated deodorant. Look for one that works to keep you dry and odour-free but also moisturises the skin under your arms like Dove Original Aerosol and Roll-On, which contain ¼ moisturising cream and provide 48-hour protection from sweat and odour #winning.
Body: Daily moisturiser
Speaking of nourishing, the rest of your body needs daily hydration, which is why a moisturising lotion should absolutely be on your ‘essentials’ list. According to Emma, body lotion is another multitasking product that not only keeps your skin looking and feeling soft and supple, but also helps protect and restore the barrier function of the skin to prevent dehydration, dryness and increased sensitivity. Emma recommends finding body products that also contain vitamins, peptides, enriching omega oils and protective antioxidants to both moisturise and help fight the signs of ageing.
Hands and nails: Rich hand cream
Often neglected, the skin on your hands is one of the first places to show signs of ageing and when you think about how much you use your hands daily, it’s no surprise. “Using a treatment hand cream filled with age preventative ingredients and nourishing protective oils for the nails combined with SPF30+ will make a considerable difference to the wellbeing of your hands,” says Emma. Not only will it help fight the signs of ageing, but it will ensure the skin on your hands stays nourished and soft. So, keep one at your desk or in your handbag to complete your top-to-toe skin care routine.
What do you consider a skin care staple?
