Our skin is the biggest organ on our body and it takes some maintenance and TLC to keep it looking it's best — especially when the environment, your lifestyle and diet all effect it too. One of the biggest things years in beauty teaches you is that moisture is key. And it's just (actually more!) important that you're hydrating from the inside as well as the outside.
We caught up with Rosalind Chapman, the genius behind the cult British skincare brand Transformulas (Victoria Beckham is a fan), and got her must dos and don'ts when it comes to getting the best skin of your life. Her advice for protecting your complexion from the Aussie climate? "Sun damage can take years to show and can be avoided by wearing appropriate sunscreen. Don't rely on skincare products or cosmetics that include an SPF, as the protection levels provided are usually too low."
Read on to get more tips and tricks and the mistakes to avoid when it comes to caring for your skin.
1. Exfoliating is key to achieving and maintaining healthy, radiant skin.
"Exfoliating removes the dead cells which make the skin look dry and dull and dramatically boosts the effectiveness of skincare products as they are no longer being applied to dead skin. As a general rule I would advocate exfoliating two to three times a week but this will vary according to your age and skin type. For example older skins may need more regular exfoliating while more sensitive skins may need less."
2. Boost your skin's hydration with a quality face mask.
"Moisturising is extremely important particularly after sunbathing and swimming. In addition to body lotion and an anti-ageing face moisturiser, I would also use a hydrating face mask at least twice a week making sure I treated my neck and décolleté and my hands as well as my face."
3. Hydrate your skin internally as well as externally.
"Our skin is the largest organ in our body but it is last in the queue when it comes to laying claim to your body's water store. This means drinking water is one the best things you can do for your skin to ensure your body is able to give the skin the water it needs. You should drink between one to two litres a day, depending on the temperatures you are exposed to and your size."
4. Don't rely on skincare products or makeup for your SPF.
"I advise using a specialist sunscreen with a high SPF in Australia you should aim for a 30 or 50+ every day] that you can just apply once a day underneath skincare products and makeup. Don't rely on skincare products or cosmetics, as the protection levels provided may be too low. And remember you don't have to be sunbathing to be at risk, rays can get you through glass and simply walking around in the shade."
5. Use a serum and invest in a specialist eye cream.
"If you are serious about anti-ageing then you need to use a serum and invest in a specialist eye cream. Serums should normally be used under your day or night cream. Eye creams are not a gimmick. They are specially formulated with ingredients to tackle the specific problems of eye area (dark circles, bags, crepiness)."
6. Don't mix and match brands.
"My view is that where products are designed to work together you will tend to get better results. Serums and moisturisers can be layered on the skin without problems if they are designed to go together. Also, read more about hair serum for dull and frizzy hair in this post. Not always the case if you mix and match brands. An active ingredient in one brand of serum may cause irritation when combined with a different active ingredient in another brand's moisturiser, or they may just cancel one another out."
7. Don't overload your skin by applying too much product.
"Your skin can only absorb so much, and the residue will remain on the surface and can block pores causing breakouts or coagulate and ruin makeup. Read the instructions on the packaging and use only the amount of product recommended."