SKINVESTMENT

What is a skinvestment and why should you bother? Ashleigh Cometti looks at the different ways of investing in your skin.

THE TERM ‘skinvestment’ can be defined as the action or process of investing time, money and effort into your skincare routine, K-beauty website Skin Library says.

Putting in the hard yards now to reap healthy, glowing skin in the future? That’s a pretty solid return if you ask us.

The act of ‘skinvesting’ largely depends on your skin goals, budget and time you have to spare. It can be as simple as drinking more water, committing to double cleansing or as involved as switching out your skincare for cosmeceuticals and booking clinic treatments.

Here are some tips for building a skinvestment strategy that will pay dividends in the long run.

START NOW

When it comes to skinvesting, so the earlier you begin, the healthier your skin will be. But don’t be discouraged if your skinvestment journey starts later in life, there’s much to gain from cultivating healthy skincare habits (not to mention the relaxation benefits of treating yourself to a nightly skincare ritual).

THINK LONG-TERM

Cutting corners and skimping on steps can only lead to complexion catastrophes, so building a skincare routine you’ll actually stick to is paramount.

The fast-moving nature of the skincare industry means trends come and go, and certain products and ingredients fall out of favour (remember microbeads, anyone?) But curating an edit of products that suit your skin type and concerns is important.

Consistency is key, and being regimented with your application of products like serums and eye creams (both morning and night) will mean you’ll get the most out of your routine.

Think of your daily skincare regime as a ritual of sorts — one that cares for mind, body and spirit. Taking time out from a hectic schedule to care for your skin is an investment that costs nothing. A moment of inner calm reflects on the outer.

It takes discipline to establish healthy skin habits of cleansing, hydrating and treating, but laying a good foundation now will certainly pay off later.

CONSIDER YOUR SKIN GOALS

If you’re not achieving your skin goals from topical skincare alone, it may be time to call in the big guns. In-clinic treatments are intended to supercharge your at-home regime, fast-tracking results and maintaining their longevity.

Such aesthetic treatments like facial lasers and skin-boosting peels are designed to follow a course, as skin requires constant maintenance to address skin concerns and preserve its glow.

Many clinics offer dedicated treatment plans or memberships tailored to suit your skin type and goals, allowing you to prioritise your skin while paying off treatments in monthly instalments.

For example, Howick boutique skincare clinic Mooi offers its Mooi & Me annual memberships, which extend to both skin and grooming and work out cheaper than if you were to book individual treatments throughout the year.

If you prefer to dial up your skincare from home, consider investing in the tools. Manual options like jade rollers and gua sha aid lymphatic drainage and can be used with your preferred oil or serum for extra slip, like the Ines Gua Sha, $40.

At the other end of the spectrum (and if your budget allows) consider high-tech devices like an LED Light Mask, hand-held microcurrent facial toners or dermal rollers.

Finding a big-ticket item hard to justify? Consider cost-per-use. For example, if you’re eyeing up the Omnilux Contour Face Mask, $899, which feels like a significant amount to shell out in one fell swoop, think about how it could save you money in the long-term when it comes to ongoing inclinic services like LED Light Therapy.

THE CASE FOR COSMECEUTICALS

As the body’s largest organ, the skin reflects overall health and absorbs whatever is applied to it. So, if we are mindful about what we consume or wear, we should be intentional with skincare.

For this reason, Victoria recommends shopping for fewer high-quality skincare products over a multitude of cheap and cheerful options. “Remember to invest in quality, not quantity. It’s always tempting to grab a bargain and be tempted by cheaper, more disposable items, but you can save so much money by investing in high-quality products that will be used for years to come,” she says. “We need to reframe our mindset and choose to have less high-quality products, instead of lots of low-quality products.”

Medical-grade or cosmeceutical skincare are known for providing higher concentrations of actives such as retinol, antioxidants and peptides over their supermarket shelf counterparts, meaning you’ll achieve your results faster. This includes the likes of Osmosis, Aspect Dr, Cosmedix, PCA Skin, Environ and ASAP Skin Products.

Upgrading your skincare to the cosmeceutical variety comes with the added step of supervision by a trusted skin professional, as they can best advise which mix of products will work synergistically.

Laying a good foundation with quality skincare may save you cash later, as you may not need such aggressive or invasive treatments down the line like full facial resurfacing or surgical interventions.

Consider the Environ 3D Synerge Filler Serum, $151, which draws its inspiration from two dermal filler techniques in a bid to address volume loss and restore a plumped youthfulness to the skin.

EMBRACE SKINIMALISM

While a 10-step beauty routine may suit some lifestyles, a few solid steps done well is all that’s needed to build a simple yet effective regimen.

Taking your routine back to basics (follow Caroline Hirons’ simplified morning regime: cleanse, eye cream, serum, moisturiser, SPF) means you can afford to spend a little more on one high-quality, performance-based product rather than subbing in two or three products in its place.

Better yet, opt for multi-purpose products which treat and protect in the same step, like the new Sisley Paris All Day All Year, $590, which serves dual-purpose to protect skin from UVA and UVB rays, while defending against free radicals and the visible manifestations of stress.