SKINCARE FOR NOW

Gentle brighteners, hands-free soothers and better beauty sleep; this is what modern complexion care looks like.

Hitting the spot

Maintaining the skin’s protective barrier is one of complexion care’s key concerns; when this is intact, skin stays hydrated and is more able to fight off external aggressors. So how to eradicate blemishes without upsetting this essential function? Refined formulas take a more holistic approach to clearer, happier skin. Skinceuticals Silymarin CF, £145, is a blend of vitamin C and antioxidant ferulic acid with patented silymarin (derived from milk thistle) to prevent oil oxidation. It’s also free from potentially irritating essential oils; great news for sensitive skin. As for supplements, the new Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Clear Biome, £55, is loaded with good bacteria and zinc to improve digestive health and ease the problem from the inside out. Alongside the traditional salicylic and lactic acids, Clinique id Dramatically Different Hydrating Clearing Jelly Base + Active Cartridge Concentrate for Imperfections, £38, uses soothing probiotics.

Hyaluronic plus

Hyaluronic acid with resurfacing ingredients is a skincare pairing that’s becoming more popular, for that glowy plumpness that comes not just from hydration but exfoliation, too. Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-free Gel Cream, £39, is a moisture rush with brightening pineapple enzymes, while Votary Brightening Hyaluronic Serum, £75, has glycolic and salicylic acids. Both give tired skin an instant, dewy lift.

Good in bed

The new Alpha-h Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum, £70, is a bootcamp for dull skin with the rare combination of regenerative ingredients glycolic acid and granactive retinoid. The fastestgrowing wait list in beauty right now is for Medik8 H.E.O Mask, £55 (out in May). This two-step night treatment takes moisture to the next level by flooding skin with water-attracting humectants then sealing the deal with lubricating emolliants and protective occlusives. Leaves & Flowers Skin Sleep Cream, £65, has a dense texture that melts into the skin to calm redness, while Lumene Arctic Hydra Care Moisture & Relief Rich Night Balm, £26.90, is a gloriously buttery version of the best-selling day cream, relieving sore, dry skin so you can sleep (not so) tight.

Blue beauty

It’s not altogether surprising that the search for the latest botanical has taken us back to the ocean. Needing to protect itself from sun exposure and dehydration, algae has exactly the kind of omegas, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that benefit dry and fragile skin. Marine microorganisms are also hailed as the new digital defence, helping to shield skin from blue light exposure. Find them in One Ocean Beauty Blue Light Protection & Hydration Mist, £46, and microscopic plankton extracts in new Náu Bio-smart Anti Blue Light Serum, £99. Try Oio Lab Algaemania Facial Oil, £55, when skin lacks elasticity or has been overstimulated by aggressive routines, and Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque, £59, to shore up defences against polluted and drying environments (out early this year).

New misthaves

Skincare mists are an armour for our times, providing a speedy way to fortify on the go and yes, a hands-free method of rebalancing a confused microbiome after removing a mask. Drunk Elephant Sweet Biome Fermented Sake Spray, £34, has antioxidant-rich kombucha and fermented sake, ceramides and fatty acids; VENN Synbiotic Defense Mist, £34, has pre and probiotics with all-rounders niacinamide and vitamin B3 (out in April). Our constant companions.

Self care for skin

The pressures of modern living in these uncertain times can wreak havoc on complexions. Inflammation is a prime cause of skin issues from irritation to rosacea, often triggered by excessive stress. While skincare alone cannot (completely) calm our anxieties, it can heal distressed skin through restorative formulas. Brimming with potent plant extracts and clever aromatherapy, de Mamiel First Fix Stress Response Serum, £130, counteracts not just the inflammatory wear and tear caused by cortisol spikes but also the high emotions that keep the cycle going. With hemp-derived CBD isolate and cica extracts, This Works Stress Check CBD Skin Booster, £38, brings immediate relief to aggravated skin.

Shine a light

A dewy glow is a springtime staple, so capture it with a sheer, new-gen luminiser that lets skin show through.

Gloss

NARS Euphoria Face Dew, £25. High shine and without shimmer, this sheer pink liquid is the antidote to drawn, post-winter skin.

Tint

Dior Stick Glow in Coral Glow, £30. Consider this the ‘no-blush blush’, flushing a translucent stain over cheeks and eyelids.

Care

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, £31. For skincare-grade hydration, mix this serum-slash-strobe into your make-up; use neat as a primer or over cheekbones.