January can sometimes be a bit of let down after the fun and festivities of December but it's also a time to reenergise ourselves, whether that means going "dry" for the month, kicking off a new exercise routine or trying out some healthier recipes. Of course, all this healthy living should result in us all dropping a dress size automatically and sporting a glowing complexion, right? After all, we're bombarded with images of fresh faced, winter loving models/actresses/celebrities etc across our tv screens, magazine covers and social media who all make it look so easy...
In reality, things aren't always so cut and dry and while I can't give you a quick fix for dropping the Christmas pounds (if only) I can help in terms of a couple of little cheats for creating a brighter, more glowing complexion - so here goes:
- Drink a pint of water in the morning
This is a tip I heard years ago from a model and a nutritionist in the same day (weirdly enough) and I've managed to stick to it religiously because the results speak for themselves. We all know that drinking water is good for us but starting off your day with a big ol' glass of it really helps to kick start your body, improving toxin drainage in blood and lymph as well as "purifying the colon"; an interesting turn of phrase that always stuck with me. If you're not a big fan of water as is, try adding some lemon or orange segments with a little fresh mint (yum).
- Mix and Match Skin Care
There's no hard and fast rule which says one face mask, serum or moisturiser fits all, and that same theory applies to our skin as well. Most of us have combination skin as it is, but when you add in central heating, wintery weather and general January dullness it can all lead to a few extra dry patches, unwanted oiliness and dehydration (the joys).
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I remember reading a quote from make-up artist Lisa Eldridge a couple of years ago where she said she tends to "mix and match" her face masks to suit different parts of her face eg. using a purifying one for the t-zone, and then a more hydrating version for cheeks and neck. The idea made total sense to me so now, instead of thinking in a blanket statement way such as; "my skin is oily", I try to target the areas that actually are and then look after the areas that aren't in a different way.
I use the same theory when applying primers before make-up, choosing a mattifying one (NYX Shine Killer & Benefit Porefessional are my current faves) for forehead, around the nose and chin, and then a more "radiance" style one for the rest of my face (Clarins Beauty Flash Balm or Boots Botanics Radiance Balm) which gives skin a healthy glow, but in the right places.
Do you have any tips to add?
