ALI’S BEAUTY SCHOOL
You can enjoy a flawless, glowing complexion in just three easy steps… BEAUTY SCHOOL DROP-OUT? NO WORRIES – BEAUTY EDITOR ALI HAS YOU COVERED!
SKIN DEEP
CLEANSE
Star t with a great cleanser. Skin should be cleansed morning and night, whether you wear make-up or not. Skip your morning cleanse and even the best of foundations won’t sit well, with skin looking tired and lacklustre. Sleeping in make-up accelerates the ageing process, slowing down cell renewal to leave a layer of dull, dr y, decidedly un-radiant skin to show the world the next day.
Clarins Cleansing Duo for Normal & Dry Skin, £35.70, has all the softening proper ties of Alpine herbs to promote suppleness and elasticity for mature complexions. Sweep over with toner after cleansing to tighten pores and refresh.
Parched, dehydrated skins will benefit from a cleansing oil. Superdrug Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil, £2.99, removes both face and eye make-up plus pampers skin that’s had too much sea and sun.
Optimum PhytoEnergise Glycolic Cleansing Pads, £9.99, have a secret ingredient extracted from seaweed to re-energise, leaving skin fresh and smooth. Tr y them for an evening cleanse (a few times a week is enough for sensitive complexions*) for an immediate anti-ageing ef fect.
NOURISH
Don’t skimp on moisturiser – ever y skin type needs it. Your daytime moisturising cream should protect the skin from environmental agers. Pollution, UV light and free radicals (airborne molecules that can adversely impact cell production) can all be hugely detrimental to skin condition. M&S Formula Restore Day Cream, £12.50, provides SPF 20.
Optimum Anti-Glycation Anti-Ageing Day Cream, £12.99, is packed with key ingredients to reverse free radical damage and gives skin a luminous glow. Night times are for repairing skin, so do opt for a richer formulation and apply religiously before bed. Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect intense Advanced Night Cream of fers fabulous anti-ageing benefits for a reasonable £25.00.
BOOST
Add a serum to your routine to give skin a fuel injection of restoring goodies. Top of the serum game is Clarins Double Serum, £57.00, which can be used morning and night under moisturiser. Serums are like a pep pill for “meh” complexions, intensifying the efficiency of your other skincare. Best of the budget bunch is nspa Expert Rejuvenating Serum, £10.00.
Exfoliate skin with a polishing scrub a few times weekly. Older skin sheds slower so an exfoliator will gently remove dull, dead cells to reveal the younger, glowy skin beneath them. M&S Formula Advanced Daily Exfoliating Micro Powder, £8.00, is as good as anything.
Pop on a lovely moisturising mask post-scrub to leave skin smooth and hydrated. Superdrug Vitamin E Leave-on Moisture Mask, £2.99 ,hasa delicious, featherlight texture and can just be massaged in after use.
SKIN TRICKS
Keep the delicate eye area hydrated with an eye cream. Tr y nspa Brightening Eye Cream, £6.00.
Massage your complexion night and morning. Use gentle, circular, upwards movements to stimulate circulation after moisturising.
Look out for the fabulous multitasking products on the market just now. Optimum PhytoEnergise 3 in 1 Moisture Balm, Primer and Mask, £14.99, is a base for make-up, a nourishing night cream and can be used as a hydrating mask.
Hydrate from within for skin that looks plumped and smooth. Get into the habit of sipping water throughout the day. Just a small glass can change the appearance of your complexion almost instantly.
Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £32.00, is radiance in a tube. Pop it under your make-up for a magical uplift!
“Use a high facial SPF the day after a Glycolic cleanse as sensitivity to sun may be increased”