A Gorgeous Complexion Is Totally Within Your Reach!

By Hadiza Saidu

We all want perfect skin. And to get it we are prepared to buy into the latest hyped up ingredient or celebrity-endorsed miracle product that costs half a month’s salary. There are many information and too much products out there to confuse you, the more advanced skin care gets, the harder it is to work out what you should be using.  It’s enough to make you revert to basic soap and water but that’s not the road to great skin either.  Over the following steps, we will sort out your skincare woes once and for all. With the right advice anyone can get a better complexion and no your bank account won’t receive a thumping for it.

It’s Not Just About Your Skin Type: Experts agree that while categorizing your skin(dry, oily, etc.) still applies , you shouldn’t base your entire routine on it. Your skin type determines whether you should use formulas containing more or fewer emollients (which increase skin hydration) and what type of emollients. But you also need to target your concerns, such as ageing, acne or discolouration. Choose your cleanser and moisturizer according to your skin type, and your specialized treatment products to target your issues. Darker skin ages more in terms of discolouration and sagging. Lighter skin signs of ageing are mainly wrinkling and redness.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Treatment, Clear Skin Cream. It reduces the  appearances of fine lines and wrinkles. Treats and helps prevent blemishes. Salicylic acid for acne treatment. And it goes for about  N4,000.00

Cleanse, Cleanse, Cleanse At Night:  It might seem obvious, but poor cleansing is still a common mistake. Leaving make-up on when you go to bed blocks pores which results in bacteria build-up (hello breakouts!), generates free radicals and leads to collagen breakdown. Clean skin enables products such as serums and creams to deliver their full benefits. The best way to cleanse? Massage in your cleanser thoroughly and remove with damp soft cloth or rinse off with water. If in doubt wipe over with toner afterwards, as leaving behind any residue can be as bad as not cleansing at all.

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser. With bursting beads(vitamin enriched), lemon grass and fruit extract. It removes dirt, oil and impurities.  It wakes you up. Rinses well and leaves the face shine-free. You can pick this up at any pharmacy or departmental store between N1,800 and N2,000

Reach For The Serums: As serums are mostly water based, the active ingredients penetrate faster than lotions or creams giving a turbo-boost. And why address just one concern, the new multi-serums improve lines, uneven texture and pores all in one formula.

 Derma E: DMAE Alpha Lipoic C-Ester Serum is a good serum option if you are looking for skin-tightening results. The most note-worthy ingredients in the bottle are Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE (Dimethyl MEA). Alpha Lipoic Acid is potent anti-oxidant and DMAE is a known skin toning ingredient. It reduces redness, sun damage and gives overall brighter skin tone.  This could cost about N4,000.00

Be Supplement Smart: When it comes to ageing, taking a supplement helps because many nutrient levels deplete with age. Not sure which to choose? Look out for antioxidants (which helps counteract environmental damage), Hyaluronic acid and anti-inflammatories. Studies have shown that hyaluronic acid improves skin hydration, stimulates collagen production, maintains elasticity, has an anti- bacterial and anti-inflammatory function and works as an antioxidant.

Don’t Forget Your Facials:  No longer just a glorified cleanse, facials have a real effect. Skilled derma-aestheticians can treat most skin conditions and do much more than just unblock blackheads. The benefits are not just on the surface. A facial is recommended every 4-6 weeks. If you barely have the time for that, then a good at-home mask would be fine.

 Freeman Facial Peel-Off Mask With Cucumber. This lets you peel away impurities for a fresh, silky-feeling facial complexion without over-drying. Artfully blended with botanical extracts that help you look and feel more beautiful. Combines cucumber, melon and ginseng extracts to create a superb skin silkening blend. You can get this for about N1,500.00