How to brighten up your skin at home? It’s easy with my DIY facial and product suggestions. I posted this as a video on Instagram last week (follow me here) and wanted to share it here in more detail for you including why I take each step. The products are beautiful so I’ll do a little review of each one as we go.
Step 1 – Cleanse
I’ve just done a detailed post on cleansing HERE and double cleansing HERE so I won’t go into much detail. However, I can’t stress the importance of clean skin before starting any other skincare steps. You want each and every product to get to where it is supposed to and get maximum benefit.
Step 2 – Exfoliate
I am a lover of exfoliation and I do it several times a week using different types of products. It keeps my pores clean and skin smooth. There is another post to come on this soon! Exfoliation sloughs away dead skin cells and congestion so that your products can penetrate deeper into the skin. I love to use the Summer Fridays Overtime Mask as not only does it smell delicious but it is gentle on the skin. The mask contains pumpkin, apricot seed powder, oat kernel protein and vitamin E and leaves the skin smooth and bright.
Step 3 in How To Brighten Your Skin – Treat
There are hundreds of brightening face masks on the market. I like the Farmacy Bright On Vitamin C mask as it tackles multiple issues in one product. It combines a clay mask with a vitamin c serum that detoxes and brightens. A massage activated mask that changes colour as it works. As you massage it into your skin, the vitamin C capsules burst, turning the mask from lavender to green, so you know it’s working. The product itself contains Micro-Encapsulated Vitamin C, Kaolin, Fruit-Derived Blend Of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Aloe.
Step 4 – Don’t Forget The Eyes
Tired, puffy eyes are part of my life these days thank you to my nursing career but I have a couple of tricks to give them a quick fix. First, I love under eye patches. In particular, I swear by the Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels which help reduce lines, de-puff and firm the skin under the eyes. I find them instantly cooling and soothing which helps my eyes look awake and feel less tired. Bonus points for them being a dry patch so there is no drips or goopy feeling (yes, that is a technical term).
After 10 minutes I remove the patches and pat in a little Caffeine Eye Cream from The Inkey List. It’s loaded with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant benefits derived from coffee, which help to reduce puffiness, dark circles and prevent skin damage from free radicals, which can make dark circles more pronounced. As caffeine is a diuretic, it can help to relieve water retention, which can be a major cause of puffiness under your eyes. Also enhanced with renowned age-defying peptide, Matrixyl 3000, the formula helps to boost collagen production and so minimise fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.
Jade Rolling Is Your Friend when you Brighten Skin At Home…
Finally I use a Jade Roller which is incredible for boosting circulation and eliminating puffiness, so your face looks more sculpted. Not only does the texture of the stone feel infinitely soothing (ideal at the end of a loooong day), but the rolling motion boosts elimination of accumulated toxins, ‘lifts’ your face and neck and helps to bring relief from stubborn tension headaches. Use daily from forehead to décolleté and you’ll soon see a difference in the texture, tone and clarity of your complexion.
Step 5: Skincare That Brightens and Adds Glow
I’ve discovered two products in recent months that are excellent for adding glow and helping skin appear brighter. The first being Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir. I find this so good for my dry skin as it contains Golden Vitamin C for a brighter-looking complexion and hydration powerhouse Polyglutamic Acid (a supercharged skincare ingredient that’s over 4X more hydrating than Hyaluronic Acid). It sinks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated. Extra tip? It makes a fantastic primer. Foundation glides on over the top.
Then I finish with Shiseido’s Bio Performance Glow Revival Cream. I have already used a full tub of this and it takes a lot for me to finish a day cream as I am always testing new products. Formulated with Multi-Capisolve 1124™, its velvety texture absorbs quickly to regenerate, repair and enhance vital nutrient flow to the skin, whilst the brand’s innovative RenoCycle System technology promotes cell renewal to leave you with a smoother complexion and minimised pore size. The formula is enriched with Super Bio-Hyaluronic Acid to replenish moisture and provide long-lasting hydration for softer, more supple skin. Helps to reduce redness and soften the look of wrinkles. Shiseido know how to do skincare so well and I would recommend you giving this a go.
So there you have my tips on how to brighten your skin up at home.
A few steps to get rid of dull, dry skin and hopefully some helpful product suggestions that you will enjoy trying out.
Louise x
