Here’s how to prepare your skin for Valentine’s Day
The most romantic day of the year is almost here: Valentine’s Day! Just the mention of the word Valentine’s Day has some people shuddering and others leaping with joy. Whatever your plans are, it’s never been easier to keep your skin looking flawless with these tips I want to share with you.
Sheet Masks
In the run up to Christmas, we at Procoal rave about sheet masks. Hydrating, nourishing beauty. The best thing about sheet masks is that you can use them often. You can use them once every two weeks or you can be like the Korean beauty fans and use them almost every day. Try using them about 3 times a week in the run up to Valentine’s Day to really see a difference in skin hydration and radiance!
Stay Hydrated
We know this advice may be a little cliche, but staying hydrated really does wonders for your skin! You’ll find your skin is free of pesky blemishes and looks plump and youthful with no signs of dullness! Another benefit is that you’ll feel less bloated, so when you get dressed for date night, you’ll feel great and have more room for that delicious pudding! You can also try replacing your morning coffee with a glass of warm lemon water. It’s packed with antioxidants, a natural energy booster, and a great way to wake up your metabolism in the morning. It also boosts your immune system, perfect for those chilly mornings!
Clean Up
Remember to keep your skin clean. You might put a lot of effort into applying a mask or exfoliating, but all that effort won’t pay off if you start with a dirty face. They’ll just spread dirt and clog your pores. Start your routine by removing your makeup and cleansing your skin. This provides a clear base for the following products to be absorbed by the skin layers and do their work.
Avoid Sugar
We don’t want to sound preachy, but if you want a radiant complexion for Valentine’s Day, it’s best to avoid sugar. Chocolate and candy, while delicious, are terrible for your skin! Sure, there are full-coverage foundations that can save the day, but for me personally, a lightweight foundation with a killer glow always gives the best look. If you can’t completely avoid deprivation in the week leading up to the big day, try to cut back, as even small changes like this can have amazing effects on your skin.
Eye Cream
Eye cream can be a bit controversial, with some people unable to live without it, while others say it’s basically a facial moisturizer in a small jar with a higher price tag. Whatever you think, applying moisturizer around the eye area can really help fight signs of aging or dark circles. The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the rest of the body, which is the first sign that you’re not getting enough sleep. Opt for a cream enriched with avocado to best hydrate and nourish the area.
Start Scrubbing
A facial peel is great for a variety of skin types. If you have dry skin, use it to remove any dead skin cells that may have accumulated and caused flaky patches on your skin. For oily skin, remove excess sebum that may be causing breakouts and eliminate any bacteria in your pores.
Facial Oil
Facial oil is a really easy way to give your skin some extra help. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and even anti-inflammatory properties, facial oils balance your skin’s water and oil levels, prepping it for any additional products you might want to add, and protecting against everyday aggressions. Anyone with oily skin shouldn’t skip using a facial oil, it helps your skin too!
Makeup
After all the care and effort you put into your skin before Valentine’s Day, you’ll notice that it looks beautiful and healthy. What you do after that is completely up to you, but as mentioned above, light foundation and base makeup look simply amazing. If you want to cover up certain areas, use concealer for extra coverage without making your skin look too full. Try mixing your foundation with a glow-inducing moisturizer for the ultimate romantic look, perfect for a candlelit dinner.
Lipstick
The classic red lip is a must-have this time of year, whether it’s a first date or a night out with your beloved, it feels like an unwritten rule. Red lipstick and Valentine’s Day makeup go hand in hand. One trick to make your lipstick look even better is sparkling white teeth! Try Procoal Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder. You’ll see the difference after the first use, adding a wow factor to your Valentine’s Day makeup.
Don’t forget
You’ve done everything you can to make your skin look flawless. You don’t have to stop now! 90% of the time your skin will look its best if you stick to this habit for the long term. You can go a step further and incorporate serums and vitamin C-rich products into your new routine for optimal results. You’ll wonder how you ever took care of your skin before!
Here are our top ten tips for getting ready for Valentine’s Day. No matter how you celebrate, we hope you have a great time! Don’t forget, you can use these tips for other occasions like weddings or birthdays, too!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
