Although COVID may put a damper on our silly season, in Australia we may still get to still enjoy some freedoms to let our hair down and socialise with our colleagues and friends in a responsible way. So how can you ensure that skin is party ready?
With skin enemies such as excess alcohol, fatty foods and long nights on the agenda over the holiday season, Ultraceuticals Australia skin expert, Tracey Beeby offers 5 top tips to keep skin in shape through the Christmas break.
“Whether it’s office Christmas parties or basically letting go after an exhaustive year. Holidays are all about excess, unfortunately our skin doesn’t always agree with our rebellious new plan. Skin can become puffy, fatigued, blotchy, flakey and severely dehydrated from over-indulging. But there are some simple tips that will help keep you on track to last the distance and maintain glowing skin to New Years!” says Tracey.
Tip 1: For Puffy Eyes
Eyes are often forgotten and are always the first to show the signs of fatigue. Women often go to bed so exhausted they don’t remove eye makeup properly. This causes further irritation, and you wake up with your eyes feeling dry and scratchy.
Always remove eye makeup with a gentle soothing and cooling eye makeup remover – not your normal facial cleanser! The skin around the eyes is very different to the face with very few oil glands so it’s essential to treat it with the appropriate products. Tracey recommends Ultra Eye Makeup Remover
Keep the eye area well-nourished with appropriate hydrating products. Remember to use minimally and keep the product around the orbital bone only, never on the eye lid or too close to the tear ducts. Tracey recommends: Ultra Moisturiser Eye Cream
Anti-fatigue masks or energising masks are ideal as a ‘quick fix’ pick me up, some can even be used daily. Always check to ensure your chosen mask will be suitable for under the eye area. Tracey recommends: Ultra Energising Mask
Tip 2: For Blotchy Skin & Breakouts
Drinking plenty of water is essential as well as taking vitamin supplements during the partying season.
For the odd break out make sure you have your spot treatment available and use as required.
Liquid exfoliants containing AHA’s, BHA and Niacinamide are ideal for blotchiness. Liquid exfoliants can be used daily to even out skin tone and be a quick fix for blotchiness but be aware that these need to be introduced into the regimen slowly and then increased to daily use. Tracey recommends: Ultra Even Skintone Smoothing Serum
For the body, use a gentle exfoliant daily (ensuring the exfoliating beads are bio-degradable). Using a physical exfoliating is also a great preparation for your skin if choosing to use self-tan for that summer glow. Self-tans are also a wonderful option to even out the skin on the body, but if this is not available use your bronzer which perfectly evens out minor imperfections while giving you a great tan look as well.
Tracey recommends: Ultra Gentle Exfoliating Gel – Ultra Complete Correction Mineral Bronzer shade 5
Tip 3: For Dehydrated Skin
Use a good quality hydrating serum daily underneath your moisturiser to boost hydration levels in the skin and counteract any signs of dehydration. Ensure your moisturiser is for your skin type and contains biomimetic (mimics skins natural moisture content) ingredients to hydrate and restore balance to the epidermis effectively.
Apply a hydrating mask up to 3 times weekly to nourish the skin effectively and replace vital moisture loss.
Exfoliation – this is important to ensure your hydrating serums absorb. If dead skin is on the surface this will block the serums from absorbing into the skin. Exfoliation with physical beads may be used up to 3 times a week on the face and daily on the body. Liquid exfoliants containing AHAs and BHA should be introduced into the regimen slowly and eventually, when tolerated daily use is ideal.
Tracey recommends:
Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum – Ultra Moisturiser Cream – Ultra Replenishing Mask – Ultra Even Skintone Serum
Tip 4: For Dark Circles
This is so incredibly difficult to treat and really tough to find an effective quick fix treatment for. Vitamin A, in the form of retinol topically is the only effective long-term treatment that I have noted for dark circles.
As a temporary fix I would recommend an anti-fatigue mask or energising mask (as it is able to be used under the delicate eye area).
Use a cooling lotion on cool dampened cotton pads will assist to soothe the eyes and also may help to reduce any associated puffiness. A good concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your skin colour is best for hiding dark circles.
Tracey recommends:
Ultra A Perfecting Eye Cream – Ultra Soothing Eye Makeup Remover – Ultra Energising Mask
Tip 5: Pasty, Dull Skin
Rule number one to avoid dull skin – No matter how late the night ladies please never go to bed with makeup on!
Remember to also exfoliate with a physical exfoliant (one with grains) but no more than a few times a week. This will aid in blood flow and remove the build-up of dead surface cells that lead to a dull complexion.
Use an anti-fatigue mask up to 3 times a week to act like a cup of coffee for your skin and give it the boost it needs.
Have a professional skin treatment, whether it be a hands on facial, light peel or a pick me up treatment, wherever you are within your treatment journey, regular in clinic treatments are essential.
Tracey recommends:
Ultra Gentle Exfoliating Gel – Ultra Energising Mask
Ultraceuticals treatment recommendations: Vita-Lift ACE Power Facial, Skin Workouts, Vita-Brasion, Hydro-Brasion, Radiance Plus+ treatments.
