With countless magazines, stylists and fashionistas staking their claim on the latest beauty secrets, it can be hard to decipher between fact and fiction.
Bronzed or pale? Glossy or matte? To seem ageless or to embrace maturity?
Stop worrying. Instead of spending a fortune on products, tools and consultations, here’s our guide to this season’s top beauty secrets “ without any controversy or patents pending.
Moisturize
It seems like common sense, but how many of you forget to add vitamin E to your daily routine (and then complain about the horrors of premature age)? Exactly. As attested by experts and beauticians alike, moisturizers keep skin soft and wrinkle-free, and also prevent unsightly flakes and scales bred out of harsh winter winds.
If your skin is prone to breakouts, seek out mild moisturizers that won’t leave your face greasy (tea-tree or seaweed based products are perfect), while dryer skin can handle more intense TLC (like vitamin E or cocoa-based moisturizers). It’s important to remember that the proper moisturizer won’t cause breakouts, so if you’re skin becomes irritable, it’s time to switch products.
SPF
You’ve heard it once; you’ve heard it a million times: the sun is your skin’s nemesis. Without applying the proper SPF, you’re asking for a leather complexion with no hope of salvation. In addition to moles, sunspots and premature age, SPF-free skin can result in melanoma “ the most fatal of all skin cancers. While the sun-kissed glow is in demand, it’s crucial to realize that most A-listers invest in spray tans or bottled product “ in an atmosphere as fickle as Hollywood, do you really think they’d risk their looks for a little UV?
Also, contrary to popular belief, moisturizers with SPF don’t have the same effect as SPF solo, so invest in a face cream that’s light, grease-free and won’t clog pores. Remember that sun protection is crucial summer through winter, so sunscreen application daily is essential in preventing damage.
Tea Tree
Pimples and blemishes are no match for the wonder that is tea tree, the natural solution to beauty’s biggest inconvenience. Harbouring antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal qualities, it quickly dries out blemishes without the harshness of chemically-based treatments. Although you have to brave its strong odour, tea tree is the natural solution to skin clarity “ whether using it as a face wash, spot treatment or acne-fighting cream. However, due to its strength, it’s crucial to follow up tea tree cleansing with a moisture treatment in order to prevent dryness or irritation.
If you’re prone to acne or blemishes, a grease-free tea tree- based moisturizer is an ideal follow-up, while your daily face moisturizer is fine for daily non-acne prone preventative face-washing. The best part? It’s inexpensive and available everywhere.
Less is More
Regardless of how appealing Dita Von Teese may look on the cover of Vogue, it’s important to remember that a) we are not all world-famous burlesque performers and b) when it comes to your daily makeup routine, less is more. Instead of using your workday to experiment with the combination of red lips, smoky eyes and dramatic cheekbones, pick one attribute and flaunt it proudly.
Darkly-lined eyes (read: not raccoon) should be paired with a simple gloss and a touch of blush or bronzer, while brighter lips should be toned down with minimal mascara and eyeliner. Makeup is fun and should be played with “ but you don’t want to spend your eight hours refuting claims you look to Dennis Rodman for inspiration.
