Springtime is known for “the deep clean” and making space for the new. Well guess what, this applies to your skin as well as your home. If you’re anything like us, we are suckers for a spring clean. Nothing seems to bring more joy than throwing out the old and bringing in the new whether it’s clothes, clearing out the fridge or the garage, there is something overtly satisfying about this cleaning ritual. Beauty habits are not an obvious place to start but this product purge is a great way to spruce up your beauty stash for spring. Date checking, brush scrubbing and deep cleanse facials now is the time to sort, cleanse, renew and replenish all your beauty essentials to keep your skin looking radiant. No feather duster required!
Check Dates
It’s a sad reality but our most precious fixer-uppers have a shelf life. Foundations and concealers generally last up to 12 months, mascaras around 4-6 months whereas lipsticks can last up to 2 years. Moisturisers, serums, anti-aging skincare products and sun cream will stay in action between 6-12 months. The danger with expired creams isn’t just possible less effectiveness but also irritation and possible bacterial infection. Creams in a pump will generally last longer and be less prone to bacteria, but creams in a jar should be tossed out after 6 to 9 months, 12 in some cases. Signs to look out for include if the smell of the product has changed, a change in colour or oxidisation, if the oils have separated or the product has grown a film.
Top Tip: On the back of your product, look for an open jar image. The image may contain 12M, 18M, 24M, etc. This tells you how many months the product is usable from the day it's opened.
Clean Make-Up Brushes
Make-up brushes and beauty blenders are the hoarders of the beauty world. They collect bacteria and debris from your face (oils, dirt, dead skin cells), and spread it right back to you with every application. Bad news all round, as germs spread from skin to make-up and back again spoiling products sooner and clogging up your pores. Warm water and mild soap should do the trick. Scrub the brushes and sponges under the tap until the water runs clear and leave to dry. Look after your brushes so they look after your skin to keep it spot free.
Streamline Your Collection
No, you’ve not worn that dress in 3 years but maybe next month at that dinner with friends… let’s face it we’ve all been there with that struggling to get rid feeling. But in the name of the spring clean it’s time to get brutal with the bin liners. Embrace the challenge of streamlining your collection of 30 lipsticks and 10 moisturisers. If you’ve not used it in the last 6 months, be honest and ask yourself if that half-used bottle needs to take up space in your bathroom or make-up drawer. Once de-cluttered, it’s time to organise – less mess, less stress! Have all your morning essentials in one place laid out in a storage tray, box or bag, so it’s not over-whelming digging through your items when preening your pout.
Facial Deep Clean
When it comes to spring cleaning skin, sometimes a little extra help is required to get that desired deep cleanse and glow - from nourishing ingredients and prep for sunnier days to lighter formulas for a fresh skin feel.
Step 1: Exfoliate weekly to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and increase smoothness.
Step 2: Cleanse and tone. Choose a lighter one-step cleanser to restore your skins pH balance.
Step 3: Apply a face serum such as L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew Serum to deliver active ingredients such as hyaluronic, glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids to renew your skin and help deliver a more youthful appearance.
Step 4: Moisturise! Follow with a light moisturiser containing an SPF to protect your skin from sun damage. Treat sun cream like a flake and strawberry sauce on a 99! It's a no brainer!
Top Tips for Your Skin Type
Dry Skin: Dryness is more than often caused by a lack of oil in the skin rather than dehydration from lack of water. Hyaluronic acid will help restore hydration. Avoid cleansers that foam or strip the skin, instead choose a cleansing balm. Always choose a moisturiser specifically designed for dry skin such as Clinique Moisture Surge.
Oily Skin: An oily complexion is due to an excess of sebum (oil) in the skin. The trick is to not over-cleanse or use harsh products that will exacerbate oil production. Try clay masks, these are great at reducing excess oil.
Acne Prone Skin: Salicylic acid is great for quickly calming and healing blemishes and breakouts, so choose products containing this active ingredient. Don’t skip moisturising, choose a non-greasy and lightweight formula.
Combination Skin: This skin type can be tricky to manage due to an oily T-zone but dryer patches on other parts of the face. Stick to more lightweight products such as Perricone MD hydrating Cloud Cream. Although combination skin can tolerate more intense active ingredients such as retinol which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles.
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