Looking for an Instagram-worthy glow? Here at Serene SkinLab, we’ve put together top skincare beauty tips taken from East Asian influences (who, let’s face it, are killing it in the skincare game) to help achieve a clean, luminous, and positively photogenic complexion.
1) Have a Daily Skincare Routine
To help our skin look its best, we need to be taking care of it every day. That means starting or maintaining a daily skincare routine to keep skin refreshed and revitalised, and ward off dullness and signs of premature aging.
Every daily skincare routine should have the following products:
Cleanser
Use a natural, gentle cleanser every morning and night to wash away excess dirt and oil build up, and open up those pores ready for the rest of your skincare routine to do its thing. Wet the face with cold or lukewarm water. Then apply the cleanser by gently rubbing circles around the face, focusing on different areas. Wash off the cleanser and pat dry with a towel.
Toner/Serum
Use a toner to rebalance the skin to a healthy pH level. A good toner helps to control the levels of sebum/oils on the face, shrink the appearance of pores, and refresh the skin ready for moisturiser. There is now an abundance of serums on the market that can be used instead of toner to target more specific needs. Serums are packed full of a potent mix of antioxidants that help to combat areas such as anti-aging, sun damaged skin and more. Apply the toner using a cotton ball, gently wiping over the skin in upward movements. Serums are best applied using clean fingers, patting it on and smoothing it outwards.
Moisturiser
Use a natural moisturiser shortly after applying your toner/serum, before your face starts to feel like it’s drying out. Picking a moisturiser that contains ingredients with emollient properties (coconut oil, shea butter and jojoba oil) will help to also lock in all that hydration goodness. Dab small amounts around the face and then massage in using circular motions.
SPF
Use a mineral SPF of at least factor 30 that contains zinc oxide to block UV rays, instead of chemical SPFs that rely on your skin absorbing artificially manufactured chemicals to neutralise the sun’s UV rays. Also look for SPF that blocks both UVA and UVB rays as these both cause premature skin aging. Apply directly after your moisturiser in the same circular motions, and then every 2 hours or so throughout the day.
2) Use the Right Blend of Antioxidants
There’s a reason why skincare serums contain a mix of antioxidants, and that’s because they work better together. Finding the right blend for your skin type and concerns will make all the difference in your daily skincare routine. For example, for an effective anti-aging skincare routine, mixing vitamin C (also known as L-Ascorbic acid) with vitamin E (found in jojoba oil and coconut oil) can boost results and efficiency as their UV ray protection properties complement each other well.
3) Know What Combinations to Avoid
With so many skincare ingredients targeting the same needs, it can get really confusing really quickly. Most of the time, these natural skincare ingredients play well together. Vitamin C is the main one to be careful of using as it is such a strong antioxidant.
Here are the vitamin C combinations to avoid:
Vitamin C + Acids
Avoid using strong acids like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and AHAs/BHAs with vitamin C as vitamin C has an acidic pH level, so combining it with other strong acids will cause a pH imbalance in the skin.
Vitamin C + Niacinamide
Because the properties of vitamin C and niacinamide are so similar, they effectively cancel each other out.
Vitamin C + Peptides
Avoid mixing vitamin C with peptides as this could lead to irritation and redness.
If you have sensitive skin, it’s recommended that you avoid vitamin C altogether as it could lead to irritation, redness and acne breakouts.
4) Stimulate healthy blood circulation
Even just 30 minutes of walking a day can stimulate enough blood flow to give your skin a glowing complexion. But if you want to go that extra mile, invest in a good jade roller and give yourself a daily Gua Sha massage. The cold jade stone gives a cooling effect to the skin, reducing redness and puffiness, and leads to tighter looking pores. Just 10 minutes a day doing a jade roller massage will improve blood circulation, and encourage collagen production and lymphatic drainage. With proper daily use, you’ll start to notice a more lifted and sculpted jawline in no time.
5) Go light on the makeup
Think less is more when it comes to applying makeup. Applying a light foundation and some concealer will help to blur blemishes, but still, maintain the natural contours of the face and a natural-looking complexion. Too much makeup can also lead to clogged pores and acne outbreaks, ruining all that good work you put in to create a good base.
