05 Jan Kick Start Your Post-NYE Skin Detox In 5 Easy Steps

How many of you have been indulging over the holidays? Whether if that means one too many cocktails or tucking into a good meal, the period from Christmas leading up to the New Year often indicates a lack of restraint. And while we’d never tell you that enjoying yourself is a bad thing (it isn’t!), too much of a good thing can wreak havoc on your face. Which leads us to the topic of a skin detox.

A term loosely used throughout the beauty industry, there’s no concrete definition of what constitutes a skin detox. But the general idea here is to flush your skin clean of toxins and give it a fresh start. In which case, here are a few simple ways you can start doing exactly that.

1. Drink water, and water only 

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Remember the fun you had with pouring yourself an extra glass of rose over New Years? Well, it’s time to give that life up completely and take on a new commitment to sobriety. Start incorporating the habit of drinking water as much water as you can (ideally, eight glasses or more depending on your daily activities), as it has been thoroughly researched that having an adequately hydrated system can help your complexion remain supple while keeping flakiness at bay.

2. Tell sugar to BRB 

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That’s right, all that cake you’ve been having over the holidays is doing a lot more harm for your skin than you think. Overconsumption of sugar can lead to a sudden spiking of insulin levels in your body, leading to ‘a burst of inflammation throughout the body’ according to dermatologist Dr Nicholas Perricone. This inflammation can very quickly break down collagen and elastin, which inevitably lead to sagging skin and wrinkles.

But that’s not all. This sudden burst of inflammation also creates an ideal haven for Propionibacterium acnes bacteria to thrive, says dermatologist Dr Bobby Buka. As the name implies, these bacteria are the main culprits behind your acne breakouts. Which is why if you plan on starting a skin detox, consume less sugar!

3. Moisturise before bed 

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Speaking of getting hydrated, have you been sticking to your skincare routine over the holidays? If your answer is a maybe, then you should really start committing to it today. Bolstering and maintaining your skin’s moisture barrier doesn’t just end at drinking water. In fact, the water you consume tends to reach all your other organs before they get to your skin.

That’s why you should always make a point to supplement your new drinking (we mean water) habit with a good moisturiser. Find something that contains Hyaluronic Acid, a natural humectant, for truly nourishing hydration that also repairs your skin barrier.

4. Consider exfoliating your face

Source: Well+ Good

After all that socially-distanced partying, you need to leave all the dirt, grime, and dead skin from your face in 2020. To do that, start by giving it a proper exfoliation. Divided into two distinct categories ie: chemical exfoliants and physical exfoliants, they both do essentially the same thing: strip your skin clean. The only difference is through their approach.

Chemical exfoliation as the name suggests, uses mild acids such as AHA or BHA, to exfoliate and resurface your skin. Physical exfoliants on the other hand, employ the use of a rough surface to essentially slough-off dull, dead skin. We recommend only using chemical exfoliants if your skin isn’t sensitive. Otherwise, it could lead to redness and irritation!

5. Tuck in earlier

Miracle of all miracles, one of the best ways to hit ‘reset’ on your skin is to actually get more sleep.

Yes, we know you’ve heard it a million times, but there’s good reason for that. A whole host of skincare benefits can be traced directly back to improved sleep quality, of which includes the diminishing of fine lines and wrinkles as well as improved microcirculation. On the contrary, sleeping less (we do it too) can result in poor blood flow to your skin, causing it to look… well, lifeless.

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But as always, if you’d rather leave this in the hands of professionals, we totally get it. Simply drop by any Vesnude lifestyle centre and enquire about our Urban Skin Refresh facial to find out how we can help revitalise your skin and bring out its A-game. Find out more here!

Also read: Facials vs Skincare; Which is Better?