The real reason for your dry skin and prominent pores
Agonising over an acne eruption of volcanic proportions? Have I got news for you – your moisturiser may be to blame for your blemishes.
Just take it from my beauty buddy and maquillage master Larry Yeo, who says that smothering on layers of lotion in Singapore’s stifling heat can wreak serious havoc on our skin: “I find that ladies tend to over-moisturise in our humid weather and neglect the more important process of exfoliation.”
Given the clammy clime of sweltering Singapore, exfoliation is of the essence instead. In lieu of smothering your skin with sticky salves, what you should be scrupulous about is to treat yourself to a regular rub-down with a scrub, which will work wonders at preventing patchiness and banishing blackheads and breakouts. Click through the gallery slides for more!
Try: Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Exfoliating Gel, $68.
Want more skincare tips and tricks? Check out all the insider beauty secrets you need to know to shrink your pores, and get your daily dose of beauty on our dedicated section at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: If you’re already painfully pimple-prone, you should shun all face scrubs like the plague – why aggravate your sensitive skin further, right? Wrong. While aggressively abrasive scrubs should probably be avoided, exfoliation really is for everyone. In fact, if you have reactive skin, gently lifting off debris and dead cells can actually help to purge your pores of gunk and grease. How about that.
Ideally, you should gun for a #HGProduct with acne-alleviating superheroes like salicylic acid, which will get to action straight away to decongest pores and nuke angry red monsters virtually instantly.
Try: The Body Shop 3-In-1 Wash.Scrub.Mask, $29.90.
Want more skincare tips and tricks? Check out all the insider beauty secrets you need to know to shrink your pores, and get your daily dose of beauty on our dedicated section at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.
But back to the potential perils of moisturising. Just take it from Los Angeles-based celeb dermatologist Dr Zein Obagi, who makes the rather radical assertion that “moisturisers have no long-term effects.” Happily, his opinion squares nicely with mine – great minds think alike? – and with good reason, too.
You see, if you have dry skin, using a concentrated cream may actually “trick” your sebaceous glands into cutting back on oil production – and that’s not necessarily a good thing. “When applied on skin, the body gets a signal that there is sufficient moisture and will not deliver more, which will make your skin drier,” warns Dr Obagi.
Only caveat? If your skin is very dry, you can consider smoothing in a smidgen of moisturiser on top of your other lotions and potions that work to strengthen and stimulate.
Try: Kanebo Fresh Day Cream, $98.
Want more skincare tips and tricks? Check out all the insider beauty secrets you need to know to shrink your pores, and get your daily dose of beauty on our dedicated section at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.
The proof is in the palpation: If your face feels uncomfortably taut to the touch after stepping out of the shower, your skin is deeply dehydrated and in dire need of some dampening. Cocoon your complexion with a comforting cream, stat.
Try: Fresh Rose Deep Hydrating Face Cream, $70.
Want more skincare tips and tricks? Check out all the insider beauty secrets you need to know to shrink your pores, and get your daily dose of beauty on our dedicated section at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.
“Cursed” with combination skin that’s slick with sebum in certain areas and dry as a desert in others? You may want to consider combatting your condition by multi-moisturising with a thicker textured night cream on your cheeks and a featherweight formula elsewhere.
Or do as I do and “spot moisturise”, for want of a better phrase: Selectively apply a lightweight lotion on drier spots like your cheeks to lock in water and prevent patchiness.
Try: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream, $49.
Want more skincare tips and tricks? Check out all the insider beauty secrets you need to know to shrink your pores, and get your daily dose of beauty on our dedicated section at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.
Top takeaway: Exfoliation is essential, but moisturisers are not mandatory – you may find yourself only needing to spot-apply sparingly on particularly parched zones of your face. Easy enough, right? This pro trick has worked wonders in weeding out my lumps and bumps – with any luck, it should also get you out of a spot of bother.
Right, then. You know the drill: Spill the #deets if you have similar secrets to share, and cheers to superb skin for all!
Try: Sisley Tropical Mattifying Moisturizing Skin Care with Tropical Resins, $160.
Want more skincare tips and tricks? Check out all the insider beauty secrets you need to know to shrink your pores, and get your daily dose of beauty on our dedicated section at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.