SWEET NOISE

Written by MasterClass

How to Find Fashion Inspiration: ing Your Personal

1. Start with people you know. If you have no idea where you truly want to go with personal style, pull in your most basic resources: family and friends. Who do you admire at home? Who do you admire at work? What are they wearing that makes you think they look nice? Start to use those outfit ideas as a reference point. You don't have to go for a certain genre. You don't have to go for a celebrity. Everyone has somebody in their life that makes them think, “They look nice.”

2. Search online. Use a search engine to find the kind of look you're going for. If you know you’re interested in boho or preppy style, search for those terms. If you’re not sure, keep it more basic. If you are a man, you can search for “men's style.” If you're a woman, search for “women's style.” If you're non-binary, search for “non-binary style.” If you’re plus size, you can add on “plus-size style.” And there will be a plethora of options available to you. Start to click through those and ask yourself, "Could that be me? Does that feel like me? Would I like to feel like that person?" Spend time on social media, and observe how friends and celebrities dress, from casu al outfits like sweatshirts and leggings to work-ready blazers and turtlenecks. Blogs are full of fashion tips and inspira tion, so find a few fashion bloggers whose style you admire and search through their archives for your favorite outfits.

3. Look to off-duty and street style. If there is a celeb rity or an influencer whose style you like, try to find im ages of their off-duty style. What do they wear when they're not in the spotlight? What are they posting for their outfit of the day (OOTD)? Try to find out who that celeb's stylist is, and look to them for inspiration.

Inspiration: 6 Tips for FindPersonal Style

4. Go window shopping. Check out boutiques and designer stores. Pay attention to how the mannequins are styled, and find items that you like. This is a good way to find out which items are trending and to explore layering, since mannequins are often styled to show off multiple items from a store. Window shop ping works for online shopping, too—many brands post look books on their websites that you can bookmark for inspiration.

5. Check out runway shows. Runway shows are a great resource for inspiration, and you don't have to go to New York Fash ion Week to see them. You can find every major runway show from the last 20 years on Vogue.com, for example. Look at as many runway shows as you can. Find the fashion trends that work for you. That's even easier than window shopping. You're looking at what common themes would make sense in your wardrobe. And you're pulling inspiration only. You are not buying that designer piece. The pieces and styling on the run way are not meant for everyday wear. What you see on a run way is a form of art, but it can also be a great outfit inspiration.

6. Look beyond fashion. When looking for inspiration, re member that it doesn't necessarily have to come from fash ion. You might be inspired by botanicals, art, film, or animals. If you see a flower with amazing colors, try to incorporate those colors into your look. That kind of real-world style in spiration is where many designers actually get their fash ion ideas. Inspiration from outside the realm of fashion can help you find a look that is unique, rather than trendy.

Are you really who you want to be?

by Sarah K.

It´s not that often that I ask myself that question. And anyway I honestly do not have a sufficient answer for it. But sometimes I look for my place in society. And think about the way I still have in front of me. Things I still want to achieve. Things I still want to experience. Things I still kick down the road. And then there are also the views of others. What they have achieved. The status they have. Where and who they are in life. And so for the most part you have this feeling that first and foremost a kind of competition drives people to change and to do what they are doing. To live in an even bigger house. To have an even larger wedding. And to display an even larger ego in public. It seems to be an endless list that you have to tick off in order to be “someone”. I´d just love to grow and mature naturally. According to my experience and speed. And not my possessions. I don´t want to be aimless but nei ther competitive when it comes to finding my way. As long as it´s re ally my way and not just for the sake of comparing myself to others. I don´t want be flawless, but have the ability to reflect on myself and be as close as I can to what I think is the sincere me. And I want to give back something to the world and not just take or be impressive in front of others. To know who you are or who you want to be, is something that you are forced to ask yourself throughout your entire life from time to time. And even if it´s not a constant question in my mind, I think the even fact that I am allowing this issue to occupy my mind will put me on the right track.

What are SMART goals?

SMART is an acronym used to describe the process of setting goals. The acronym stands for the words “specific,” “measurable,” “achievable,” “relevant” and “time-bound,” which are essential traits of setting objectives. The SMART method provides a way to measure your progress and be accountable for your success. Setting SMART goals allow you to realistically evaluate what you are try

The Hottest Sheer Dresses On The Red Carpet That Had Us Collecting Our Jaws Off The Floor

Whether you call it the sheer dress or the naked dress or the barely there so you better leave it to the imag ination dress, we can collectively attest to the fact that this scantily clad trend is here to stay. Freeing the nips & showing the finger to archaic dress codes one red carpet at a time – what’s not to like? Consider us swayed.

The recent years have seen a cardinal resurgence of the sheer look all thanks to women who know how to make a statement. Let’s have a look at the top 5 sexiest sheer red carpet moments

Bella Hadid is no stranger to traversing down the sheer route. Whilst attending the amfAR gala at Cannes in 2017, the then 20-year-old supermodel was lensed in a spark ly, barely there dress by designer René Caovilla. With one dropped shoulder sleeve & a slit originating way above the hip (more so closer to the waist), it was here where she ce mented her prowess in acing bold silhouettes.

It’s HRH Queen B. In a nude gown by Celia Kritharioti. The slit is immaculate. And she’s wearing glasses, indoors. With a blinding Tiffany & Co. necklace. Need we elaborate? Should sum it up.

Beyoncé At The Oscars 2022 After Party

Bella Hadid At The 2017 amfAR Gala

Megan Fox At The 2021 MTV Awards

We can successfully ordain bad girl RiRi as the champion of spearheading this trend, all thanks to her 2014 CFDA out ing in this Swarovski-encrusted Adam Selman gown. The internet literally ~broke~ & so did the peace of conserva tive Karens calling the same an abomination. Us fans were thrilled, to say the least.

Give it up for this Mugler moment that lives rent free in all our heads. And will continue to do so. Donned by Megan Fox for the MTV awards night, the sheer, mi di-length dress coupled with the embellished thong un derneath, was custom made for the actress.

Bella Hadid At The 2017 amfAR Gala

Bella Hadid is no stranger to traversing down the sheer route. Whilst attending the amfAR gala at Cannes in 2017, the then 20-year-old supermodel was lensed in a sparkly, barely there dress by de signer René Caovilla. With one dropped shoulder sleeve & a slit originating way above the hip (more so closer to the waist), it was here where she cemented her prowess in acing bold silhouettes.

Rihanna At The 2014 CFDA Awards

Ariana Grande, Beauty Is All About Self-Expression

By Bella Cacciatore

Speaking to Grande, it’s obvious that she’s not just being nice to me—she’s a woman dead set on spreading kindness. Her makeup line, R.E.M. Beauty, is a shimmering, candy-col ored dreamscape, but it’s also a vehicle for self-love, creative expression, and freedom. “[I want people] to feel like their most beautiful, honest, and expressed self,” Grande says when I ask how she wants her customers to feel when they use the products. “I think makeup is about self-expression. It’s not about follow ing trends per se. The point of it is to express yourself and feel beautiful. It’s personal.” The first drop—or chapter, as Grande refers to it—from R.E.M. is called Ultraviolet and launched in November with an assortment of

eye palettes, liquid shadows, lip markers, false eyelashes, and more. The newest chapter, which is called Goodnight n Go and drops March 21, expands on the first collection with a mix of shade extensions and brand-new products. Ahead of the launch, I caught up with Grande for a rapid-fire round of Glam our’s Big Beauty Questions. Read on for her favorite product from the drop, how she takes a moment of peace, and why she doesn’t believe in beauty rules.

Glamour: Tell me about the new chapter!

Ariana Grande: The new chapter expands our color story. We have some new makeup products—we have our cheek and lipstick, we have our metallic little pots of eye shadow, and we have some eye-geltopper situation. We also have some new palettes, expanding the color story, really having some fun there. But also we’re introducing some skin prep and treatment products, which is so exciting. To me, those are some of my favorites from this drop because I feel like it’s such an important part of the picture. And it’s fun. What was the inspiration behind the new shades? A lot of bold ’60s colors, in the eye shadow pal ettes. I love the ’60s. I love having a bold pastel lid, with an intense cut crease. It is so classic and fun and beautiful to me. And then monochrome ’90s blush and lip pairings, with the cheek and lipsticks, because you can use them for both. Those are really fun, and the names are funny— there’s Broadway Baby, Stage Mom, Audition, Callback.

What are your favorite products from the new chapter? I really love our face mist. And I really love the undereye balm. This is such a pecu liar product to me. It almost glows, it looks so interesting. It’s very cooling and re freshing and energizing. If I don’t have time to get a full night’s rest or if I have a big workday or an early call time, or just if you naturally have dark circles under your eyes or puffy eyes—I have all of the above. I’m never sleeping enough, because we all are doing our thing. It’s the perfect way to prep your eye for makeup. And it gives you that little zhuzh. I love it; it feels so good. It’s not quite a balm; it’s not a jelly. It’s a whipped cloud or something. It’s the most impossible thing to describe. It feels like whipped ice, or some foreign, intergalactic thing that you found in Superman’s cave.

This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

Incorporating more color into your wardrobe might seem overwhelming and near-im possible at first, but the truth is it's pretty easy. Of course, there are no "rules" to fashion — you can literally wear whatever colors you'd like, and we bet you'll look darn good in them, too. That being said, identifying which colors best flatter your specific skin tone can help you stand out in a crowd and radiate from the inside out.

You're Warm If…

Your Skin Tone

Has a greenish or yellowish (aka golden) undertone. Olive complexions also fall in the warm category, says Eiseman.

Your Hair Color

Ranges from dark brown to dark blonde, Eiseman tells In Style.

Your Jewelry Preference

Is yellow gold. According to fashion stylist Britt Theodora, the type of jewelry you instinctively gravitate towards might be telling of your skin's tone. If you feel yellow gold looks best on your skin, you probably have a warmer skin tone, she says.

Go-To Colors for Warmer Skin Tones

LA-based fashion and celebrity stylist Philippe Uter tells In Style that he associates warm skin tones with warm colors,

Your Skin Tone

You're Cool If…

Has a bluish undertone. This group can also range from very fair to very dark, Eiseman tells InStyle.

Your Hair Color

Ranges from very dark (blue-black or a deep brown) to light blonde, says Eiseman.

Your Jewelry Preference

According to Theodora, those in the cool group tend to pre fer silver, rose gold, or a mix of both.

Go-To Colors for Cooler Skin Tones

Cooler tones look fantastic in charcoal, cool blues, and vio let, says Theorodra. However, Uter adds that you might want to keep in mind that strong colors can make cool skin tones look paler.

Your Skin Tone

You're Neutral If…

Is hard to determine. Eiseman tells InStyle that if you're a neutral skin tone, you really can't tell if you're warm or cool.

Your Hair Color

Is a combination of colors, according to Eiseman. Think blonde with ashy streaks or brown with warmer tones.

Your Eye Color

Is hazel. Most neutrals have hazel eyes, which tend to change depending on what color they wear, Eiseman tells InStyle.

Your Jewelry Preference

Is a mix and match of metals, says Theodora.

Go-To Colors For Cooler Skin Tones

According to Theorodra, neutral tones look great in neu tral colors, so stick with shades that fall in the middle of

Colors You Might Want to Avoid Uter's biggest no-no when it comes to dressing cooler skin

SITES TO TAKE YOUR WARDROBE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Korean street fashion and style is all the rage at the moment. From their creative color blocks to elegant (and sometimes outlandish) idol outfits, Korean brands are gaining global attention. Korean fashion provides an array of affordable and stylish outfits fit for any occasion. Use this article as your guide to the best of the best places to shop, divided by some dif ferent shopping priorities. Most budget conscious Codibook has an almost astonishing amount of clothing on its site. The clothes are affordable yet do not compromise on quality. The company has everything from shoes to pants to accessories as well as pretty frequent deals and discounts. If you’re looking for more than K-fashion without emptying your pockets, Lianox is the perfect site for you! Shipping costs can make an appealing cart seem rotten — especially with international shipping — but Lianox offers free shipping in most cases. The clothing is cute, affordable and (mostly) of good quality. Most size inclusive As someone who is on the heavier side, Asian fashion has always been intimidating to say the least. The sizes run extremely small, and it can be harder for plus-sized women to find the styles they like. When I found these two websites I was ecstatic that some of my favorite fashion trends came in sizes I could wear! Jstyle specializes in making clothes for plus-sized women with all the latest fashion trends — so you'll never miss out on the newest look. Jstyle is a little pricey, but it's known as a space for plus-sized women to shop in Korea. Hotping is the most size-inclusive Korean clothing website I have seen thus far. Its website is easy to navigate, especially for foreigners, helping orders to process without a hitch. Best for basics I am someone who adores big and bold statement pieces, like a cool cardigan or a some what obnoxious blazer. But I found that I was lacking the basics to pair with such spectacular pieces. Kooding has a variety of basics to choose from, and while some of its stuff is on the pricier side, I would highly recommend it. Some dropship websites have the tendency to compromise on quality for cheaper clothes, but Kooding does not tend to fall in that camp. Chuu is another great website for stylish yet simple basics. Its style ranges from "cottagecore" dresses to simple jackets. This gives any fashion connoisseur a wide range of options to choose from. Most variety YesStyle is a favorite amongst K-fashion enthusiasts. With its wide variety of men’s and women’s fashion, constant deals, new arrivals and large skin care section, it’s no wonder almost everyone I know has at least one piece of clothing from YesStyle. While the website boasts a wide variety of clothes, the quality can be a hit or miss. Many of its clothes are poor quality, and I’ve even gotten the wrong product or received the wrong size in my order. If you order from YesStyle, make sure to read the reviews and descriptions of each product very carefully before you purchase anything. Most bang for your buck Blackup’s clothing will leave you feeling 10 times cooler. Known for its jeans, Blackup boasts a variety of chic clothing for any occasion. The brand absolutely does not skimp on quality or style, this makes Blackup’s mid-range prices well worth your mon ey. Its lookbooks tell you how to style pieces, making it easy to utilize that special top or cool pair of earrings. Lewkin is a site I personally have very high praise for. Its catalog is smaller than some of the other sites mentioned here, but its clothes are made very well. Every item I have ordered from Lewkin has fit me well and has been high quality. It has a good selection of Korean brands and sections for less than $10 and $20 to keep things affordable. Best for idol fashion Anyone who even remotely follows K-pop knows idols have impeccable style. Many people want to dress like their favorite idols, and mixxmix has a designated K-pop style section, making it popular for K-pop stans. It also has a wide range of basics, streetwear and statement pieces. Fashion Chingu specifically sells idol fashion. The website sepa rates by artist and shows a reference photo of the idol wearing the piece of clothing advertised. Its stuff is on the pricier side (for certain items), but it's well-known for partnering with influencers — so you are likely to find a coupon code. So if you're looking to upgrade your wardrobe, consider looking into Korean fashion for both your inspirations and your next shopping spree — you're bound to find something off one of these sites, no matter what your style needs are.

“Backstage is where the real show happens:” Behind the scenes of Lagos Fashion Week 2022

The rumors are true: backstage at an internationally recog nized fashion week is pure chaos. And fashion week in Lagos, a city perhaps most known for its own unique and distinct brand of chaos, is especially true. When I step in, I have to constantly move out of the way as a crowd of a few hundred people made up of some of most talented stylists, designers, models, photographers and makeup artists this side of the world are knee-deep in work and all scrambling around to produce one of the biggest fashion shows of the world. Mul tiple air-conditioners and fans are turned on and yet the heat is almost oppressive. In one corner, there are a few hundred pairs of shoes all around a table arranged neatly in a circle, on the other rows of clothes divided according to the brand showcasing that day and models seated in various stag es of undress while makeup artists carefully apply makeup. While many of the fashion travelers came for the show that will eventually go on the runway, backstage there is a whole other show. ‘‘It is always fun. I love the chaos and pres sure,’’ makeup artist Obidike Uchechukwu, who is work ing backstage at Lagos Fashion Week 2022, tells me. ‘‘Don’t get me wrong but I love being able to do a full face on the line up or switch makeup looks instantaneously especial ly when a designer’s private model strolls in late or the de signer decides to change his or her models last minute. It is all work, work, work till the last finale of the last designer.’’ On the chaos, everyone seemingly agrees. Model Oscar Eche, who I catch backstage, looks forward to the madness and meeting people in the midst of it. ‘‘ Backstage is usually utterly chaotic,’’ says Eche. ‘‘Backstage is where most of the magic happens. As a full time model back then, I always an ticipate being backstage and meeting top 'fashion people'." In real time, I watch as communication gets to a model—the next designer he is walking for is showcasing earlier than he had expected. The result? He has to quickly start changing even as other models start walking. He eye-marks when he has to go on and, luckily, gets his outfit on in time to join the lineup and walk down the runway. There’s just one mistake: he doesn’t have shoes on.The audience barely seems to realize this while the stylist and designers backstage are panicking.

This is typical: people backstage obsessing over a mistake the audience barely notices, as well as a runway mistake happen ing through no fault of anyone but rather a fast-moving chain reaction ‘‘They don’t see the chaos. They don’t understand the time and effort it takes," says Uchechukwe. ‘‘ I mean once the pressure starts from the producer at the front house it gets backstage through the comms. And so you are doing makeup on a model while they are changing outfits and mov ing...The pressure gets worse as the show starts. You see the beautiful makeup on all the beautiful models. The makeup looks are well curated for each designer after going back and forth. I mean we still have designers who come last minute to change their looks and you just have to bring their vision to life through makeup. Oh we run, shout, some people ar gue but all in all it is to deliver a great show to the audience in the front house. Backstage is where the real show happens.’’ When the final product walks down the runway, of course it is near impossible to associate it with chaos, panic, and other things that went into making it come alive. For Frank Aghuno, creative director of Fruche, that was something he was grateful for. He tells me that the collection he showcased this year was technically finished while he was back stage at the Balmoral Hall tents waiting to showcase. ‘‘A lot of the pieces were ironed for the first time backstage as we were still at the studio sewing one hour to show time," says Aghuno. "My pieces are a bit complex and a lot of the models were wearing them wrong. We ended up redressing most of them on the line up. Everything was rushed and so when people started to tell me how great the show was I was baffled. I’m glad everything turned out fine in hindsight.’’

Harry Styles's Charming New Gucci Campaign Is Here, and We Can't Stop Staring

"Just let me adore you" seems to be the guiding principle behind Gucci's latest collaboration with Harry Styles. The entire campaign, conceived by the brand's creative director, Alessan dro Michele, is a feast for the eyes for Styles's millions of fans around the world as well as fashion devotees everywhere.

Originally presented in June of this year, the HA HA HA collection (a combo of the initials of "Harry" and "Alessandro," notes the press release) is the result of close collaboration be tween the two creative minds. "I'm so happy to see this project finally come to life," shared Styles. "I've known Alessandro for years now, and he's always been one of my favorite peo ple. I'm always inspired watching him work, so doing this collaboration with my friend was very special to me."

Embracing the gender fluidity of Styles's personal aesthetic, most items in this collaboration are intentionally unisex. While footwear and T-shirts may be categorized as "men's" and handbags as "women's," these labels serve more as an e-commerce default rather than a de facto wardrobe guide. And honestly, we're game. If the shoe, shirt, handbag, or scarf fits, then wear it.

Check out a few of our favorite images from the Gucci HA HA HA campaign, photographed by Mark Borthwick, and shop a few standout pieces below. We can't wait to see how this collection is interpreted by the global style set in the months to come.

Red Is the Most Important Color in Fashion Right Now

In the classic 1850 Hawthorne novel The Scarlet Letter, adulteress Hester Prynne is made to wear a garishly bright “A” as a symbol of her transgressions. The “A,” as we know, is for adulteress, the scarlet is for sin. Indeed, it’s a color that’s ubiqui tous in literature and popular culture for its manifold meanings. The symbolism-rich shade is also the color of love (and liking on Instagram), passion, the devil, rage, bullfighting, blood, courage, communism, the labor movement, “STOP, ” and Republicans. It’s associated, too, with that most masculine of planets, Mars, and conversely with the recent A Day Without a Woman movement, which was spearheaded by the organizers of the Women’s March. This campaign, which took place on March 8, called on women to wear red and effectively strike for the day as a protest against gender inequality in the workplace — a response to a political situation that literally has women seeing red. The color drenched social me dia on that day, with Instagram feeds blowing up with messages on brightly hued backgrounds or images of participants flaunting their crimson getups in solidarity. The shade was chosen, according to the group, to represent “revolutionary love and sacrifice.” And it also happens to be fashion’s most popular color for fall. Part of red’s allure (and power) is that it’s largely about being seen. In the weeks preceding A Day Without a Woman, designers gave us an eyeful. Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli showed stunning red gowns (a house signature), while Givenchy’s design team conjured an all-red col lection —literally — that was a crimson-steeped homage to erstwhile creative director Riccardo Tisci’s opus for the brand. Proenza Schouler embraced the color, pairing it with black in their nouveau take on bandage dresses, and Altuzarra, Max Mara, Tod’s, Prada, and many more also joined the ranks of fashion’s red army. Indeed, designers let us know that this is not a time to shrink and hide, but a time to be brave; to stop and think hard about who we want to be. It takes some major chutzpah to wear a turbo-charged color from head to toe, especially one so attention-grabbing as fire-engine crimson. So how, then, should you actually wear it this fall? Raf Simons at Calvin Klein showed ketchup-red color-blocked with bright blues, a particularly strong statement given they’re both primary colors, simultaneously warring —there’s Mars again —

and upping each other’s power. And though anything Raf does will surely be catching, according to a slew of other design ers, the winning way to show your red pride is head-to-toe and layered. More is more here. You want to be visible. Highly. And it seems there are few things more head-turning than pairing, say, a scarlet pair of trousers with a red turtleneck and matching suede trench coat, with accessories in the same family. There are two ways to go about this — the more ambitious, exact-matching scenario (as seen at Givenchy) or the more achievable one in which each article of clothing is a slightly different rougey shade (Ryan Roche). Just keep it crimson and you’ll go far. Want strong, masculine tailoring? You can have that from Max Mara, Armani, or Tod’s. Something seductive and feminine? Prada has you covered with its sizzling short and structured numbers. And if you’re feeling romantic, look to Brock Collection’s dreamy off-the-shoulder gowns. The Brock designers intended their fall offering to be about a mix of revealing day-to-day moments and magical, romantic ones. The latter idea was delivered in the form of a Valentine-red, off-the-shoulder gown one could imagine wearing while descending a spiral staircase on her way to a gala with her beloved. After all, now more than ever, aren’t we all in need of a little bit of magic. If you’re feeling less daring, a bold red boot or shoe is a subtler way to dip a toe into the trend. Perhaps you’d enjoy a pair of fitted red ankle boots from 3.1 Phillip Lim or a point-toed pair from Altuzarra. For a slightly deeper commitment, go for a thigh-high from Fendi. Wear a higher boot with a knee length skirt or dress — preferably printed; an ankle boot looks equally fetching with a longer skirt (also printed) or the season’s cropped pants. Designers from Givenchy to Balenciaga also showed pumps — the former’s stilettoed and strappy, the latter’s festooned with a retro chain and pearl motif, sure to please fashionistas in search of a strong shoe statement. Tights seem to be officially back, and can either match your red shoes (Givenchy) or stay neutral (Balenciaga). And for the rest of the outfit? Try a short or mid-length dress or a skirt. (Shorts over tights, not happening; save the longer dresses for your boots.) No matter if you’re looking to stand out, make a state ment of solidarity, or add some color to your life, the point is there’s something for whatever kind of woman you want to be.

Skincare In Your 50: Beauty Secrets From Experts Revealed

Cleanse, tone, moisturise, repeat. There is no better way to improve your skin after 50 than sticking to these three main steps: a simple beauty routine that can have a great impact on what you see in the mirror. If you used to neglect your skin in the past, midlife is the right stage of your life to start looking after it as investing your time in your complexion now will future-proof your skin for years to come. But don’t get lost in the chaos of skincare treatments and serums, a good beauty routine doesn’t need to be expensive or involve multiple steps. In the end, it’s the one you can stick to and that can fit your lifestyle and budget that works. “Beauty routines are an opportunity to notice changes within yourself,” says the San Francisco skin-care specialist Kristina Holey. “It’s not about creating perfection. As your skin needs shifts with age, so will your products.” If you are unsure of where to start, we’ve dug around to find out a few little beauty secrets from experts you can easily follow to improve your skincare routine.

Building your skincare routine

As we age, before starting any skincare routine, aesthetic doctors usually suggest becoming more cognizant of the ingredients we search for. “A bottle can say it does one thing, but if it isn’t full of the right stuff, it might not actually work – says Amy Brenner, MD & Associates-. To complement your aesthetic procedures, check for high-quality products with Retinoids, Peptides, Hyaluronic acid or Antioxidants“. Ideally, in midlife anti oxidant-rich products and moisturisers should be your current go-to’s to build and strengthen the skin barrier and protection against blue light, pollutants and sun rays. “Free radical damage to the skin’s structures like collagen and DNA cause premature skin ageing – says Dr Rachel Ho of La Clinic in Singapore-. I use vitamin C during the day and niacinamide at night. I usually pick my antioxidants in serum as the concentrations are higher for better efficacy“. She also includes retinoids in her skincare routine as believed to be great anti-agers that also prevent comedones and pimples.

Facial Cleanser

If the regular face washes were effective until our 30s, now our skin requires some extra care. In midlife, any effective beauty routine should start with a gentle facial cleanser that won’t dry out the skin. Ideally, because our face comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt and other factors, we should choose a lightweight cleanser in the morning and something more hydrating, such as a cleans ing balm, at night. For those with dryer skin, New York dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D., cautions that because it’s usually sensitive, it’s best to use a cleanser that provides a good barrier protection with skin-protective ingredients like ceramides. “After an initial oil cleanser to remove my makeup, I use a cream cleanser, then use a lukewarm water to rinse, and pat my skin dry with a soft cloth,” Wexler explains.

Toner

Whether you consider it superfluous or not, most experts consider toner a great ally as it can add in specific ingredients that you may not have in your other products. Most formulas can be used morn ing and night, but you might want to use those with exfoliating acids only at night or every other day. “I’d suggest Alpha and beta hydroxy acids to gently remove dead skin cells that can clog pores, improve sun-damaged skin and minimize dullness – says Dr. Rachel Nazarian, a Manhattan dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group-. Hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, seal in dewiness and plump skin to subtly treat fine lines or Vitamin E and C to fight daily exposure to free radicals that can age your skin“