Want Skin like An Old Hollywood Movie Star's? Here's How To Get It:

Flawless, glowing skin is a goal for most of us. Not only does it look naturally beautiful, but it's a sign of great health, as our skin is one of the first places to show telltale signs of our lifestyle. And when you have a great canvas, not only do you generally need to wear less makeup, but any you do wear instantly looks better. 

Thankfully, improving your skin is usually a matter of adopting better, consistent habits, so it is something that you can work towards. The current lockdown situation has brought a lot of skin challenges - stress, sleeplessness, lots of unhealthy snacks - but the good news is, we also have the extra time to address bad habits and create a good skin care routine. So where should you begin on your journey to great skin? 

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1. Do Your Homework

Everyone's skin is very different in texture, tone and the challenges we face. While some people battle pigmentation, others wonder how to get rid of acne scars, some are battling the first signs of ageing like fine lines and others suffer dullness and dryness. Understanding what skin type you have, and how best to treat the issues you want to balance is key. When you understand what key ingredients you need to look for in your skincare - for example, Vitamin C to bring your glow back, retinol to battle lines and wrinkles, ceramides to soothe inflammation and hyaluronic acid to deeply rehydrate - then you can begin to put a custom skincare routine in place that will really give you results. 

2. Hydrate For Success 

The vast majority of people have dry skin. In fact, even oily skin is actually skin that is  overreacting and producing too much sebum! So hydrating from the inside out is an important thing for every skin type. Use a water monitoring app to make sure you're getting two litres every day as a starting point, and try to include foods in your diet that support skin hydration, such as cucumber, melon, apples and leafy greens. Hydration efforts can also be topical too. Light serums containing hyaluronic acid will draw moisture into the skin and stop it escaping, leading to a fresher, more plumped up appearance. 

3. Keep It Clean 

Clean skin allows any products you put in to absorb into the dermis much easier, so get into the habit of double cleansing. You can tailor this according to your skin type as well. Dry skin should start off with a cleansing oil to break down dirt and makeup, before following up with a cream cleanser. Normal skin can opt for a foam based cleanser while very oily skin should follow up with an astringent toner. Once or twice a week, exfoliating also helps to unclog pores and keep things fresh - tonics containing glycolic or lactic acid work well if you don't like gritty facial scrubs.

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4. Protect Yourself 

One element of skincare that is absolutely not negotiable is a good, broad spectrum high factor sunscreen. Sunlight can damage skin in two ways - UVA rays which can cause accelerated aging, and UVB rays which burn and cause damage like pigmentation. And even if you spend most of the day indoors, or it's cloudy outside, those rays can still penetrate. Choosing a non-greasy facial sunscreen to wear each day is an important step in protecting your skin and the single most effective element at preventing the appearance of aging - so your future self will thank you! 

5. You Are What You Eat… And How You Sleep

The old saying resonates for a reason - our diet really can have a dramatic effect on how our skin looks. Try adding a few skin-loving foods into your diet for an extra boost. Foods containing healthy omega 3 and fats such as walnut or oily fish, antioxidants like berries and kiwi fruit, and plenty of red and yellow vegetables can all help. And making sure you get enough sleep is also crucial to avoid dullness and dark circles - try creating a relaxing bedtime routine to help you drift off and ban electronic devices from the bedroom for a better night's rest. 

6. Treat Your Skin

As well as building a tailored skincare routine, it's a good idea to occasionally treat your skin. When salons are open, they can recommend treatments to help with more complex skin needs - things like ultrasonic and LED therapies, microneedling and IPL. At home, there is still a lot you can do, such as trying out recipes for homemade face masks or using massaging tools like a Gua Sha.