When life (ahem, Covid) won’t let you visit your skin therapist or favourite pamper parlour, you can DIY a pretty effective facial at home that won’t break the bank. Slippers not included.
Whether you’ve been enjoying some Netflix and chill, homeschooling small children or trying to work as normal from your dining room table in your PJs, lockdowns (shoutout to Melbourne and Sydney at the time of writing) can take its toll on our wellbeing and also our appearance.
‘A lot of us have been turning to junk food and haven’t been exercising as much as we normally would. As a result, many of us are feeling and looking a bit blah,” says Dr Vincent Candrawinata, research scientist and founder of Renovatio BioScience, which develops and manufactures Activated Phenolics, a potent dietary antioxidant following a remarkable breakthrough in antioxidant extraction technology.
‘Additionally, when we stay at home without needing to socialise with people or go to work, we tend to be more relaxed with our washing routine, including our hair and skin. This can lead to the build-up of sebum and dead skin cells which over time can cause irritation or skin issues.’
Thankfully, with a slew of effective products across a range of budgets, we don’t have to let our skin go haywire during this collective time of anxiety. Here are some of the products that have helped save our lockdown skin.
1. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, $88. A genius moisturiser and primer in one, this is like a multivitamin for the skin. The vita min blend helps nourish, moisturise and cushion skin.
2. mesoestetic ha densimatrix, $159. This isn’t your regular hyaluronic acid-based serum; this concentrate provides skin with hyaluronic acid in different molecular forms. The purity of hyaluronic acid in multiple forms provides a revolutionary moisturising and anti-ageing treatment that helps provide firmness and elasticity, as well as helping to minimise the appearance of wrinkles.
3. Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect, $127. This is the new Medik8 sunscreen everyone’s talking about. In addition to super-charged sun protection, it includes DNA repair enzymes, blue light shield, pollution defence and anti-infrared technology, all delivered in a beautifully rich daily moisturiser that leaves the complexion with an invisible finish.
4. Dermalogica Barrier Repair, $74. A saviour for stressed-out skin, this velvety moisturiser helps fortify sensitised skin and shield it from skin stress triggers while helping to restore a healthy barrier function.
5. CALECIM Professional Multi-Action Cream , $190. Part of the groundbreaking CALECI M Professional range, the world’s only skincare powered by ethically derived Red Deer Umbilical Cord Lining Stem Cells, the Multi- Action Cream revitalises ageing skin with a lifting and tightening effect. It also helps improve skin fullness and skin laxity by providing hydration for firmer looking skin.
6. Skin Virtue Future Advanced Vitality Cream , $100. Skin Virtue, an anti-ageing and anti-allergen skincare range, has created a powerful anti-ageing cream that helps reduce the visible signs of skin ageing and promotes elasticity. Next-generation biotechnological active ingredients work to signiffcantly moisturise skin with a firming and plumping effect, revitalising tired-looking and sagging skin.
7. Finishing Touch Flawless Cleanse, $69.99. This daily facial cleansing device is designed to help you cleanse away makeup and impurities and massage your skin. Choose from four modes: gentle cleanse, deep cleanse, gentle massage + cleanse and deep massage + cleanse.
8. Trilogy Rosehip Transforming Cleansing Oil, $28.95. Formulated with Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, sweet almond and papaya oils, this silky emulsifying cleanser thoroughly cleanses without stripping moisture.
9. Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel 50 ml, $75. Idealto help ward off the dreaded ‘maskne’ effect, this water-light hydrator contains hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and salicylic acid for exfoliation and balancing.
10. Murad Blemish Control Clarifying Cream Cleanser 200ml, $65. Poor eating habits, poor skincare habits and sress can exacerbate acne and blemishes. This rich, yet gentle, creamy cleanser helps treat and prevent blemishes as it calms and soothes.
11. Skeyndor Essential Hydratant Cream with Amino Acids 50ml, $44. This moisturing cream for dry and normal skin types helps preserve the hydro-lipidic layer of the epidermis and regulate pH levels.
1. La Gaia Unedited Micellar Cleansing Water 100 ml, $49.50. Designed to calm and assist your skin’s regeneration process, this micellar technology contains a blend of activating extracts and potent actives to hydrate and protect against moisture loss with an easy wipe-away action.
2. Ancien True Miracle Hand Cream –Jasmine, $32. Our hands can often be neglected, so we were eager to try this anti-ageing and nourishing botanical hand cream. Hands are left silky smooth with long-lasting hydration.
3. Biossance Squalane+ BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner 120 ml, $42. The secret to this product’s effectiveness is willow bark extract, a source of natural BHAs that help calm inflammation, dissolve dead skin and smooth skin texture. The result is minimised appearance of pores and calmer skin.
4. Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel 30ml $19.99. Best for recent scarring, the unique gel formulation helps to improve and soften the appearance of scars.
5. Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Skin Cream 40 ml $16.99. Ultra gentle and healing, this helps restore the skin’s cutaneous barrier and its high content in Avène Thermal Spring Water soothes irritations.
6. Dr. Le Winn’s Line Smoothing Complex–Triple Action Defence, $74.95. Line Smoothing Complex Triple Action Defence serum is formulated with the power of Snap-8, a super-potent peptide proven to help reduce expression lines and wrinkles, while a unique combination of antioxidants helps defend against free radicals responsible for premature ageing.
7. Dr. Le Winn’s Reversaderm Corrective Skin Peel , $39.95. We are loving the results from this overnight skin peel. It contains 15 % Alpha Hydroxy Acid Complex of Glycolic, Lactic and Mandelic Acids for a micro-cellular exfoliation to resurface the upper skin layer, remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and help to diminish the look of skin imperfections.
8. Dr. Le Winn’s Ultra R4 Collagen Surge Plumping Gel, $74.95. This, with its super-soft collagen pearls, is as effective as iti s pretty! The collagen-plumping pearls are absorbed into the skin upon application and are combined with hyaluronic acid and Neodermyl, which has been shown to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles and increase firmness and elasticity.
9. A’kin Ultra Hydrating Cream Mask , $29.95. The perfect lockdown partner for your skin, Australian Tasman Pepperberry, Riberry and Muntries help boost hyaluronic acid and fight free radical damage while moisturising and calming dry skin.
10. A’kin Kangaroo Paw Flower and Hyaluronic Acid Face Sheet Mask, $7.95. This bio-degradable, light weight and soft sheet mask harnesses the power of Australian Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract and hyaluronic acid to combat lines and wrinkles and leave skin looking firm and rejuvenated.
1. Dr Roebucks Ningaloo Firming Serum, $98. Copper Peptide helps boost the skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin, helping to reduce the depth of fine lines and wrinkles, and hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture deep into the skin to plump from within.
2. Andalou Naturals Rejuvenating Eye Balm, $39.95. A plant-based retinol alternative, this gentle eye cream uses the recent breakthrough ingredient, Bakuchiol, which helps to improve the look of lines and wrinkles without any irritation.
3. Andalou Naturals Rejuvenating Serum, $44.95. This Bakuchiol- based retinol alternative serum is formulated with a highly concentrated fruit stem cell complex and super antioxidants to boost dermal vitality and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Ella Baché Rose Hydration Mist, $39. Give your skin (and mind) an instant reboot with this beautifully fragranced hydration mist. It also helps prevent and improve long-term dehydration.
5. Morphe 2 Restart Detox Face Mask , $20. This is beauty on a budge without compromising quality. The holographic peel-off mask (sofun!) is made with activated charcoal, French pink clay and willow bark extract to absorb impurities and excess oil.
6. Morphe 2 Bubbly Fresh Gel-To-Foam Cleanser, $23. Made to balance skin in addition to cleansing, this formula leaves skin feeling soft and fresh. Blue-green algae, or spirulina, detoxifies and provides nutrients, while aloe vera water keeps skin soft and calm.
7. Peppy Co Cleansing Egg, $119. For your cleanest cleanse yet, try this silicone face egg. It has ultra-soft anti-bacterial bristles that deeply cleanse your skin without causing any irritation. The sonic vibration penetrates pores to ensure that 99.9% of impurities are removed.
8. Dr Roebucks Noosa Nourishing Cream Cleanser , $42. Oat Leaf, Calendula, Arnica and Green Tea form a powerful combo to cleanse, hydrate and soothe skin while helping to reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process.
9. Peppy Co LED Light Therapy Mask, $179. Can’t get to the skin clinic? Bring the skin clinic to you with Peppy Co’s medical-grade LED Mask. It harnesses three therapeutic lights – blue to banish bacteria, red to help prevent wrinkles and yellow to detox the ski n – for a clearer complexion in just 10 minutes a day.
10. ZitSticka GOO GETTER Spot Clarifying Dots Hydrocolloid Patches x 36, $29. Breaking out? Finally, we may have the quick- fix you’ve been praying to the skincare gods for. GOO GETTER is a moisture-drawing hydrocolloid patch that absorbs fluid, impurities and goo from your surface-level zit to quickly shrink its appearance.
11. ZitSticka HYPERFADE Microdart Blur Patch for Dark Spots x12, $49. Pigmentation
can be along and uphill battle to control. Try this innovative self- dissolving microdart patch that lightens and brightens post-pimple dark spots.
12.Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $38. Channel your inner facialist with the brand’s #1 product worldwide. This gentle leave-on exfoliant, brightens and evens out skintone.
1. Biore Brightening Jelly Cleanser,$10.99. Emerge out of isolation with a fresh and radiant glow, thanks to this skin-brightening formula using proven Japanese technology, Yuzu lemon extract and Ginseng.
2. Biore Brightening Exfoliator Scrub,$9.99. Get brighter skin in one week using this brightening exfoliator to refine and polish pores to improve tone and texture.
3. Nair Soft Natural Large Wax Strips for face and body 40pk, $15.95. We hear you: you don’t want to emerge out of lockdown looking like a yeti. Trust us when we say these wax strips from ol’ faithful Nair will be your best friends.
4. Mavala Hydro-Repairing Foot Care , $29.95. Even if you can’t get in for your regular pedi, that’s no excuse for course and callous feet! Mavala’s rich formula immediately soothes and moisturises your skin whilst efficiently fighting against any abnormal thickness of the corneous layer of the feet.
The Beauty Fridge we all need
Need a place to store your skincare goodies? The Flawless Beauty Fridge, $150, from Finishing Touch is a compact cooling system that perfectly houses serums, creams, masks and more. By keeping your beloved products at optimum temperatures, you can also help extend their shelf life. What’s more, the cooling effect on the skin can help complement the active ingredients in your products and even decrease inflammation and puffiness!
