12easy ways to add radiance
C THE LIGHT Vitamin C is proven to brighten the skin and help fade sunspots. Keep a look out for Environ’s Evenescence C- Boost, $ 87, a light and non- greasy clarifying cream that employs vitamin C (among a host of other skin- benefi ting ingredients) to smooth and even out the skin tone.
FAKE IT Give the impression of luminosity with highlighter. Choose a champagne- coloured one (the experts agree it’s the one colour that’s almost universally fl attering) and dab a cream formula lightly around the edges of the face (keep the centre matte). If your skin is especially oily, swap cream for a powder illuminator. Dr. Hauschka’s Illuminating Powder, $59, is up there on the wishlist.
SCRUB AND POLISH: Smoother skin refl ects more light. Full stop. Check out Nellie Tier’s Body Scrub May Chang & Mandarin, $ 40, which dissolves dead skin cells leaving the skin soft, supple and even toned. BURNISH WITH OIL
Botanical body oils are packed with fatty acids and help the skin look like they’re lit from within. Look out for Antipodes’ Heavenly Body Oil $28.50.
CONSIDER
CERAMIDES Combat any dullness caused by dry skin with a moisturiser rich in ceramides. Ceramides, like those found in Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Youth Restoring Essence, $95, not only hydrate the skin but also reinforce its natural moisture barrier. CONSUME WISELY Caffeine, booze, sugary drinks and treats and not drinking enough water can all make your skin dull and lifeless- looking. If you are properly hydrated and are getting enough nutrients your skin will radiate health. (Bet you already knew that…)
SUBTLE
SMOOTHING Try and exfoliate at least twice a week with a skin buffer such as Trilogy’s Gentle Facial Exfoliant, $ 44, a non- irritating product that smooths and polishes without comprising the skin’s natural barrier function.
GO GO GLOW Our biggest organ, the skin on our body is surely deserving of some special consideration. Pamper yours with a rich but non- slippery salve like Matakana Botanicals’ Vanilla Hand and Body Lotion, $19. MAKE IT SHINE Protect your hair with a clarifying shampoo like Aesop’s Classic Shampoo, $ 67, which will leave it clean, bouncy and shiny without stripping it of its natural oil. REACH FOR THE RETINOIDS Retinoids help stimulate collagen and fi rm the skin. And like smooth skin, fi rm skin better refl ects the light. Try Shiseido’s Benefi ance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Soothing Eye Mask, $93 (for 12). APPLY CAMOUFLAGE
Every body looks better with a tan – faux of course. Clarins’ Self-Tanning Milk, $ 53, contains DHA to add colour, even skin tone and disguise small imperfections ( like those little lumps and bumps), along with skin repairers such as shea butter and silver birch extract. KEEP IT LIGHT Foundation should never be too opaque. Apply a very light base and build up coverage in layers where you need it most. Try CoverGirl’s Outlast Stay Luminous Natural Glow Foundation, $26.