Beauty: Top 10 tips for clean, clear skin

We all dream of having flawless skin with no imperfections. Everybody seems to be frantically searching for 'that glow' and trying to make huge improvements to their complexion. Patience and consistency are key when it comes to skincare, but where should you start? From finding the best diet, to ensuring a suitable skincare routine, here are my top 10 tips to get you on the perfect skincare journey you've been searching for.

1 - DETERMINE YOUR CORRECT SKIN TYPE

There's no doubt that it is difficult to categorise your skin type into one specific category. It may sometimes feel like it is a little bit of everything! There are 5 main skin types - oily, normal, combination, dry and sensitive. People with oily skin will also accompany concerns such as enlarged or clogged pores and blackheads. People with dry skin will experience opposite symptoms to people with oily skin. It is actually a lack of sebum produced in the skin, resulting in the skin becoming cracked, tight and flaky. Combination skin is when people experience symptoms from two or more skin types. Sensitive skin is found when people experience heightened sensitivity to a certain thing, such as skin care products, foods, weather changes etc. Normal skin is described as skin that doesn't experience any of the above symptoms.

2 - CORRECT DIET AND VITAMIN INTAKE

Finding the correct, balanced diet that suits your lifestyle is crucial to achieving clear skin. Certain processed, fried or sugary foods can contribute to inflammation under the skin, which could cause visible problems. Some foods that will help reduce inflammation are - berries, salmon, broccoli, avocado, green tea, dark chocolate, tomatoes and grapes. High quality protein foods such as chicken, turkey, eggs and tofu include two amino acids, which are essential for production of collagen.

3 - WATER INTAKE

Keeping yourself hydrated will make an enormous difference to your skin as it helps to maintain your skins elasticity. You will find you are less likely to suffer from scarring, fine lines and signs of aging with consistent amounts of water. It is also packed full with minerals such as zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium, which all contribute to the natural moisture in your skin, and are high in healing properties.

4 - REGULAR FACIALS

Have you ever had a facial before? The results are breath-taking. A few of my favourites are micro needling, dermaplaning, skin peels and hydro dermabrasion. All of these facials can cater to any skin type, and will leave your skin glowing with goodness and completely hydrated. Here at The Retreat, we offer the revolutionary Hydro Facial. This includes a double cleanse with ozone steam, hydro dermabrasion, skin quenching serum oxygen infusion, a cooling rose quarts face mask finished off with our cold, skin tightening hammer treatment to leave you feeling plumped, hydrated and relaxed.

5 - A CONSISTENT HOMECARE ROUTINE

After your life changing facial from the professionals, they will recommend which products you should use at home. Using the correct, recommended products on your skin is a huge game changer. You need to target your concerns, not make them worse! For example, if your moisturiser doesn't cater for your skin type, it could aggravate the skin or possibly make your concern even worse. Make sure to always research the main ingredients in your products before using them on your skin.

6 - USE MAKE-UP FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

Contrary to belief, makeup isn't all that bad for your skin! It all depends on which kind of products you are using. Similar to your skin care products you need to choose makeup that suits your skin type. For oily skin, try a mattifying primer and light foundation, applied with a beauty blender which helps absorb excess oils. Quench dry skin with a light weight moisturiser before applying a hydrating liquid foundation. This will ensure your skin stays plump and hydrated all day long.

7 - CORRECT MAKE UP REMOVAL

So you've applied your makeup and your skin looks flawless, now the end of the day has come and you need to get it off. You're thinking, "baby wipes will do the job" - NO. Removing your makeup is as important as the application, making sure every trace of your makeup is completely removed, in the correct way, is crucial to keeping your skin in great condition. Use a makeup removing solution - makeup removing balm is a great choice. Next, perform your nightly skin care routine.

8 - REGULARLY CHANGE YOUR BEDDING

Come to think about it, we spend a lot of time in our beds! It's no doubt that getting your 8 hours sleep is great for a healthier lifestyle, and skin, however how often do you change your bedding? Our pillow cases can collect all kinds of bacteria, built up oils, dirt and sweat from our daily use. This can then transfer onto our skin in the night and potentially cause inflammation or break outs. To avoid this, make sure you're changing your pillow case regularly.

9 - AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE

We use our hands for everything, handling money, opening doors, pushing trolleys, the list is endless. Although we should wash our hands regularly after doing these things, it is still a common habit to touch your face in between. Making a conscious effort to avoid touching your face will ensure less bacteria makes its way to your skin.

10 - EXPLORE WITH SKINCARE

Create a skincare routine you look forward to doing, there is no better feeling that giving yourself a mini facial at the end of the day, making your skin feel a million dollars.

Daisy Moore – Therapist & Facialist, The Retreat