BEAUTY

EYETALITY

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We all have those mornings when we wake up, stagger to the bathroom and stare into the mirror at some tired, puffy eyes. Whether it’s simply from ageing, stress, genetics or sleepless nights (this one’s for you mums!), different factors can affect the youthful glow of our eyes. Here are some tips to help with dark circles, puffness, dryness and wrinkles. TEXT SKYE LAVIS

DARK CIRCLES

HYALURONIC ACID: Te skin under your eyes is ultra thin and needs to be kept hydrated. Eye creams that include hyaluronic acid is a great way to hydrate and brighten up this region, helping to mask any darkness.

TURMERIC: Tis spice is excellent for brightening complexions, evening out skin tone and reducing infammation. A turmeric eye mask is flled with anti-infammatory and antioxidant properties and is super easy to make at home. All you need to do is mix 1 tablespoon of turmeric with 1 tablespoon of milk in a small bowl and apply to undereyes using a cotton ball. Leave on for 15 minutes and then carefully rinse of.

PUFFINESS

COOL AS A CUCUMBER: Pufness can be a result of excess fuid caused by water retention, allergies or swelling due to skin irritation. Cucumbers have been used for years as a home remedy for pufy eyes because of their detoxifying and diuretic properties. Tey contain vitamin C and antioxidants that can help soothe and support the skin. Plus, since they’re stored in the refrigerator, the cooling action can help decrease swelling and tighten skin for a little bit of relief. Place a cool cucumber slice on each of your closed lids, and take a rest for 15–30 minutes.

TEA BAGS: Green and black teas contain cafeine, which tightens skin and prevents the excessive accumulation of fat in cells. Cafeine also stimulates blood circulation and antioxidants that protect skin from the efects of aging. For this remedy, place two tea bags in a cup of hot water. Remove tea bags from the cup and allow them to cool to room temperature. Place them on your closed eyes for 15–30 minutes. Doing this once or twice a week can help tighten the skin under the eyes, as well as provide soothing benefts.

DRYNESS

ALOE VERA GEL: It’s not just for burns! Aloe contains tonnes of antioxidants and has numerous antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and other healing properties. A little gel can help soothe tired eyes by moisturizing the skin and providing relief. HYPOALLERGIC CONCEALERS: Concealers are typically used under the eyes to mask dark rings but can cause dryness to this sensitive eye area. Opt for a hypoallergenic concealer that is not so harsh on the skin. Another tip is to properly remove the concealer before you go to bed. Switch to a mild, soapfree facial cleanser and massage in gentle strokes. Rinse with lukewarm water instead of hot.

WRINKLES

VITAMIN C: Dermatologists love vitamin C, and for a good reason. Te little antioxidant softens rough patches, shields your skin from damage and fades scars. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production and helps prevent fne lines whilst smoothing the existing ones you may already have.

SUNSCREEN: Since the skin around the eye is extremely thin (up to 1/10 thinner than skin found elsewhere), UV rays can penetrate the area very easily, destroying collagen and causing wrinkling. Avoid sun exposure as best you can by adding a SPF 30+ sunscreen to your daily skin routine. ■

FACE

YOGA

How to get a more youthful and radiant complexion by exercising your facial muscles. TEXT SKYE LAVIS

We love seeing new trends in anti-aging treatments, and the creativity behind these practices really shows how far we will go to hold onto our youthful look for as long as possible. Te newest trend on the block being Face Yoga! Founder Fumiko Takatsu, explains that our faces are just like the rest of our bodies; composed of muscle. When we work that muscle, we will have more defnition and lifting! By practicing the below series of facial exercises you can learn to tone your facial muscles, increase circulation and blood fow, and ultimately tighten your skin.

SURPRISE ME Used to: Smooth your forehead.

How it works: Widen your eyes, trying to expose as much of the white in your eye as you can. Hold that until your eyes start to water. By holding this expression, you’re exercising the muscles around your eyes and your forehead, erasing the negative efects of frowning by doing the opposite action.

GET CHEEKY Used to: Firm your cheeks.

How it works: Take a deep breath through your mouth, then push the breath from cheek to cheek and release. Tis pose strengthens your cheek muscles and prevents them from becoming thinner and looking hollow. Tis pose’s results are evident in people who play the saxophone, they always have toned, lifted, and plump cheeks.

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FUMIKO TAKATSU: @faceyogamethod CROW, CROW, FLY AWAY Used to: Get rid of crow’s feet.

How it works: Lift and release your lower lid gently without moving any other facial muscles. Add a little bit of fngertip pressure in the outer crease of the crow’s feet, which in turn creates some pressure for the muscle to work against. Just make sure you don’t drag or pull the skin since that area is very sensitive. You also want to make sure the skin is clean and slightly moisturized so it’s not tight. By exercising the muscles around your eyes, you’re frming the skin to keep it from folding into itself, which creates wrinkles.

PUPPET FACE Used to: Lift nasal labial folds/laugh lines.

How it works: Smile with your teeth showing, then gently press your fngertips into the creases between your nose and lips. Lift the muscles up and press your fngertips down into the muscles for slight resistance. One of the best signs of youth are plump, round cheeks, which is why people use injectables to fll the area. Instead, try this exercise, which will strengthen the muscle so that it doesn’t become slack. When your fngertips push into facial muscles, the muscles push back, which is what makes them stronger and fuller.

BABY BIRD Used to: Prevent your chin and neck from sagging.

How it works: Whilst you may always put SPF on your face, your neck may often get skipped and that’s why the neck is one of the first places to show signs of aging. Press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, then smile and swallow while pointing your chin at the ceiling. This pose is great at tightening the jaw, since you’re working out your chewing muscle and the platysma, which is the muscle that surrounds your upper chest, collarbone, and neck. This pose may take some practice! ■

BEAUTY ESSENTIALS FOR WARMER WEATHER

Bring on the South African sun! TEXT SKYE LAVIS

SUNSCREEN Sunscreen is a non-negotiable item with summer approaching! It’s 2020 and there is no time to be messing around when it comes to protecting your skin. Choose a SPF 30+ and apply it at least 30 minutes before you step out into the sun so that it has time to soak into your skin and protect you from UV rays.

PROTECTIVE HAIR MASK Te strong South African sun can also harm your hair with hot and humid conditions causing your scalp to sweat profusely. Shampooing daily removes natural oils and can upset your scalp’s natural microbiome (good bacteria). Te best way to protect your hair is to use a protective hair mask at least once a week to restore moisture. On a budget? Simply use olive oil or coconut oil from the kitchen.

FACE SPRITZER Spritzing your face doesn’t only cool the skin and invigorate it, but it has antioxidants that are extremely benefcial for your skin. It gives your skin the extra boost it needs to keep a dewy, healthy appearance whilst also keeping your skin hydrated. A homemade or DIY face spritzer is easy to make and be kept in your handbag for when you need that little boost! Here is an easy Antioxidant Green Tea Toner to try

Ingredients: - 2 cups of boiling water - 2 green-tea bags - 2 - 3 drops vitamin E oil (optional) - 2 to 3 drops of your favourite essential oil (optional) - Spray bottle Soak the tea bags in hot water for 60 minutes. Let it chill. Transfer to your spray bottle with vitamin E oil and your favourite essential oil for hydration.

LIP BALM It is extremely common to have chapped, dry lips in the warmer months. Tis is because the skin on your lips is super thin and delicate, making them even more vulnerable to UV damage. A good lip balm should have a limited set of ingredients and be rich in elements like oils, beeswax, petrolatum or SPF. Make it a point to carry a lip balm in your bag and apply it before you head out.

FACE SCRUB I think we can all agree that sweating + make-up does not work together. Te dirt and grime that starts to build up inevitably blocks pores and causes breakouts. A good face scrub is absolutely essential in removing dead skin cells, leaving you with a fresh, cleansed face. You don’t have to carry this in your handbag but try to use it at least 2-3 times a week. ■

BRUSH HYGIENE

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When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? If your brushes are currently caked in makeup and you can’t see the original colour of the bristles anymore, it’s probably time you gave them a good clean. TEXT SKYE LAVIS

It’s important to clean your make-up brushes because layers of oil from your skin, mixed with makeup pigments and dead skin cells, make brushes a breeding ground for bacteria. If you are one of those people that does all the right things and yet can’t understand why you have rashes and spots, take a look at the tools you use to apply your facial products with. Daily grime from our makeup brushes can cause breakouts, congestion and skin irritation. Te same goes for your beauty blender, too. Replacing these every three months would be ideal, but a regular deep clean will be sufcient. Follow these easy steps to get your brushes shining again!

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

1. WASH Hand wash brushes with an anti-bacterial soap or baby shampoo in lukewarm water. (If you don’t have anti-bacterial soap, vinegar is also a great disinfectant). Dip each brush individually under the running water, then into a bowl of gentle shampoo or soap and rub gently with fngers to get a good lather for a few minutes.

2. SWIRL & RINSE Hold brushes under running water, swirling against your hand until the residue/ pigment starts to lather up. It is very important to use a swirling method and not soak the brushes so as not to rot the wood or remove the glue handle. Squeeze the water out of the brush and repeat the process until the residue returns to clear.

3. DRY After all of the brushes are washed, lay them fat in a neat row in the sunlight. If you stack them on top of each other, they don’t dry properly and may end up smelling damp. If you dry them in an upright position , the water can penetrate the clasp of the brush which will ultimately lead to the loosening of the glue. It’s important to also use natural sunlight and not a hair dryer as the intense heat will damage the fbres. Happy cleaning! ■