Just in case your skin needs survival tips this party season, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to draw up a masking routine on steroids. Your makeup will go on smoother and your skin will never look hungover (we can’t say the same about you though!)
‘Tis the season…to attend a gazillion weddings and holiday parties. Your face needs external help to cope with the relentless onslaught of sugar and alcohol, if it’s to look its best under all that makeup.
We have a major routine set up, which in the beauty industry we call the masktravaganza. It’s a month-long celebration of the muddiest, the creamiest, the charcoaliest face masks we can find. This hyper-routine ensures our party faces are as good as our party game, (which is always A+, for the record.)
But a word of caution: Try out the entire routine a few months before you start this season kicks in. A month before the parties begin is not the ideal time to experiment with a new exfoliant or to try out that spa you’ve been meaning to—do that well in advance. If everything works perfectly and your skin seems happy, you know you have a winning routine in place.
Here’s your timeline for big bash prep:
2 Weeks Before
If you’re prone to blackheads and whiteheads, a skilled facialist who specializes in extractions should be on your speed dial. Extractions will eliminate the clogged pores that could later develop into those big honking zits that leave spots behind. Plus, eliminating these pesky bumps under the skin will help smoothen out it’s texture. Sure, foundation and concealer can mask the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads, but a smooth canvas will ensure that the coverage looks absolutely seamless.
A Week Before
Time to start your daily skin workout. On a cleansed face, apply GlamglowFlashmud Brightening Treatment, to slough off the dead layers of skin that are responsible for dullness. If you have sensitive skin that irritates or reddens easily, don’t use it as a scrub; just apply it as a mask and wash off. Do this consecutively for the first three days, and then switch to using it every alternate day for the rest of the season.
After the exfoliation, the fresh skin cells that have been revealed are more perceptive to nourishing ingredients, so start the nurturing with a creamy cover like Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. If your skin is super dry, use an all-nighter like Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, Kama Ayurveda Rejuvenating & Brightening Ayurvedic Night Cream or Shiseido Waso Beauty Sleeping Mask. Don’t forget to extend the creamy masks all the way down your neck and up to your décolletage.
The Day Of A Big Event
On the day of your big do, set aside some time for some pretty serious masking. Apply a charcoal or mud mask to the T-zone to absorb excess oil. We love Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment and Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque, while Forest Essentials Facial Ubtan Multani Mitti is a forever favourite.
Next up, the goal is to plump the skin, so spritz Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water before slapping on a brightening serum mask, like the fantastic Bobbi Brown Radiance Boost Mask. Once that’s done its job, take a few minutes to massage in the residue serum. You’re now ready for the makeup part of the proceedings to begin!
