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Today I wanted to share some products I reach for when I'm having a 'meh' skin day. Maybe things are looking a little dry, dull or lacklustre and I need a quick fix. These are the products that perk my skin up when it's not playing ball...
We'll start with cleanser because one of the simplest ways to give your skin a quick pick-me-up is through this step that you'd be doing anyway, just by reaching for a slightly different formula. One of my absolute favourites for this is the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* | £35 | full review. This gel-to-oil-to-emulsion cleanser contains a cocktail of brightening Vitamins C and A, alongside pumpkin enzymes to gently exfoliate the skin. The texture is moisturising, without leaving any excess on the surface of the skin and the ingredients really brighten up my complexion quickly on those mornings when I wake up with dull skin. It's a gentle, effective all-rounder to provide nourishment, softer skin and a healthy glow.
An acid toners are another thing I reach for regularly when I've not had a lot of sleep or I've had a few drinks the night before and my skin isn't looking its best. I have both a gentle option and something a little more heavy-duty! My current obsession and love is the PSA Skin Heroine Mandelic and Licorice Superfood Glow Toner | £28. Mandelic acid is an AHA but has a larger molecular size than something like glycolic acid, so is absorbed more slowly into the skin and is less likely to cause irritation. This has caused me zero irritation or even tingling, so is a great starter acid and also one of the few I would actually use daily. Despite being a gentle formula, it still does a great job of smoothing and softening my skin, as well as giving it that immediate glow boost, making it the perfect antidote for dull skin. When I need to bring out the big guns, I go for the Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel | £18 (for 5 treatments) (15% off with code JASMINETALKS_LF) | full review. This is a two-part system which contains an intense cocktail of glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid and willow bark in the first step and another hit of actives in its calming-feeling serum step, including retinol, resveratrol and ascorbic acid (a form of Vitamin C). If all that can't help smooth and brighten your skin in a flash, I don't know what can! There are also gentle and regular-strength alternatives available.
When my skin is in need of hydration, I reach for my Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hydrating Toner Mist | £21.75 (15% off with code JASMINETALKS_LF). I can't believe I haven't heard more people talk about this hyaluronic acid mist because it's really good! This ingredient pulls water into the skin, so really plumps, refreshes and hydrates it. This mist delivers all of those benefits, so is really great if your skin feels a bit tight and in need of moisture.
Finally, I have two flash facials to talk about. Usually I'm more a fan of Vitamin C in leave-on products so you can benefit from its ability to reduce scarring and hyperpigmentation, however the Lixir Skin Vitamin C Paste* | £32 | is a bit of an exception. You only leave it on for a few minutes (massaging it in, then adding a bit of water to the fingers to activate the ingredient before leaving it for 5 minutes then removing) but it gives my skin an immediate glow boost. It's perfect for those days when things are looking a bit dull and grey because it totally refreshes my skin. A mask for people who don't do masks is the Ark Hydration Injection Masque* | £35. This contains a little bit of everything you could possibly want and adds up to an all-round skin booster. It contains Vitamins A (from which retinol is derived, so it can have skin-smoothing properties), B5 (this is an intensely hydrating ingredient), C and E (to protect and moisturise the skin), alongside hyaluronic acid. It makes my complexion look brighter, my skin is softer and it looks plumper and more hydrated after use. You only need to pop this on for 5 minutes to get results, meaning that even the most time-pressed among us can probably work this into their routine a couple of times a week.
What do you reach for when you need a quick skin pick-me-up?
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