New (Year) Skin!

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There are so many 'New Year, New You' type posts flying about this week, as usual in the new year, but this isn't going to be your typical one. I think we're all in a similar boat this month, new year's resolutions fresh in the mind whether it be healthy eating, re-thinking the relationships in your life or making grand plans for the year ahead. January is the month to put things in motion to make 2016 your best year yet...

But what about the lasting remnants from overindulging over the festive period? If you're smashing it in the gym already, you've probably got the effects below the neck covered, but I for one always notice that my skin seems to hate me in the new year, and becomes especially sensitive. Too much cheese, chocolate and alcohol over the past few weeks and I've got breakouts on my chin and my skin looks a little angry to say the least. So today I wanted to share with you all my tips for rejuvenating your skin in the new year, whether it's with skincare, food, or hydration. 

First up for skincare. I take pretty good care of my skin year round (if you want to see my entire current skincare routine, there's a video up on my YouTube channel here) but there are two additions I've made recently that I'm loving and one that I bring out of the cupboard every time my skin needs a bit of a boost. The first is this curious looking little sponge. It's a Japanese Konjac sponge that I picked up a few weeks ago in Selfridges. It's super smooth and gentle and I use it combined with my Elemental Herbology Vital Cleanse cleanser in the shower to remove every last scrap of makeup and dirt from my skin. I love it because it's gently exfoliating so perfect for daily cleansing without being too harsh on the skin and it's makes my cleanser work overtime. It also leaves my skin feeling noticeably softer (even when used alone). They are £8.99, available at Selfridges online and in store (and lots of other places!)

Secondly for my exfoliation secret weapon: the Kate Somerville Exfolikate. This is a much less gentle means of exfoliation and something I use once a week to keep my skin clear and help fight breakouts when they occur. It's a manual and chemical exfoliant in one product. You massage a tiny amount of the product into damp skin then leave it for 2 minutes before washing it off to reveal super smooth, baby soft skin. It's expensive at $85, but a little goes a long way so a full size tube of this will last you ages (It's also available in a mini version for $22 at Sephora.)

The final addition to my skin lineup for the new year is Simple's Protecting Moisture Cream with SPF 30 (UVA & UVB). I've been looking for a decent daily moisturiser with a high spa for ages now and I'm really loving this one. So many of them are greasy or heavy-feeling on the skin but this one is really light, absorbs easily and is formulated for sensitive skin so it doesn't overload my skin. It's formulated with sweet almond oil and vitamins E and B to give your skin a boost of hydration without feeling greasy or over-loaded. I also really like the packaging, I think it looks and feels really premium considering it's only £4.99 (available in Boots and online here.)

These three combined with my existing skin arsenal of Simple's Micellar Water (the best for removing all my makeup before cleansing) Sarah Chapman's Morning Facial Oil (a super gentle, yet rich a nourishing morning facial oil) Elemental Herbology Vital Cleanse cleanser (I love this as it cleanses really deeply yet doesn't strip the skin at all and is formulated with naturally antibacterial manuka honey so especially great for breakouts) Sunday Riley's Luna Oil (a beautifully effective night time retinol oil that doesn't make my skin dry or sensitive but still delivers results) and Fresh's Lotus Youth Preserve Eye Cream (which is nourishing, yet still cooling on the eyes and not too heavy, so it sit's really well under my makeup)

Another thing I do in the new year to give my skin a boost is to hydrate. No-brainer, right? Well, everyone seems to know this but I think very few of us actually drink enough water. It's great for your skin and one of the best ways to keep it looking radiant and blemish free. If you hate drinking water on it's own or you struggle to drink enough, try having your water hot with a slice of lemon in the mornings. This is a trait of many of my uber-healthy friends and has a long list of health benefits attributed to it, one of them being added vitamin C and antioxidants which are great for your skin.

Water isn't the only dietary change you can make that has a beneficial effect on your skin though. What you eat can have a direct effect on how your skin is looking. I actually wrote a chapter about this in my book, and I've included pictures of the relevant pages below, but to pick out some of my favourites... Avocado is amazing for the skin it is packed with vitamins, minerals and healthy oils that can help boost your complexion. Oily fish like salmon works in a similar way. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils help to delay ageing and help protect your skin against free radicals. Blueberries are also packed with antioxidants, so are great for your skin (and they're yummy too!)

Another important change I have made for the new year is to make sure I'm making my skincare really work for me. Taking the time to double cleanse your skin and to properly massage your products into your skin can help your skincare to work overtime. Work your cleansers and oils into your skin in circular motions from the centre outwards, towards your temples. There are so many different tricks and techniques online, it's worth trying out a few until you find what works best for your skin, and also for the products you're using.

I hope some of my tips and recommendations help you out if you're also feeling the effects of sensitive skin after a little festive overindulgence! Do you have any tips of your own for clearing up your skin and getting your 'glow' back?

* Sponsored Post: Compensation was provided by Unilever Simple via Mode Media.  The opinions expressed 

herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Unilever Simple. 

"Simple has over 50 years heritage in caring for all skin types, even the most sensitive. Sensitive skin is not a skin type limited to a few people, we can all experience occasions where skin feels dry or irritated, sometimes when we least expect it. All Simple products contain triple purified water and only our purest possible, skin-loving ingredients with no artificial perfumes or colours. Our unique formulation helps to instantly hydrate reducing the potential for irritation. You can trust the natural goodness in all our products to care for even the most sensitive skin."

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