What chemicals are commonly used in skincare products?

The thought of rubbing synthetic chemicals all over our faces and bodies seems a bit scary, but the fact is that many beauty products have you doing just that. Take SLS for example. Sodium lauryl sulphate is the chemical that makes products foam up, like shampoo and face wash. However, a natural alternative is glucosides, which is derived from sugar and is much kinder to your skin. Choose natural body scrubs and body polishes with organic, exfoliating ingredients like sea salt and coconut instead.

What should my face care routine look like?

Whether you have normal, dry, oily, sensitive or combination skin, there are a few basics you should follow to keep your face looking fresh. Step 1: Wash your face morning and night with warm water – water that’s too hot can strip the moisture from your skin. Use a cleanser that suits your skin: dry skin likes gentle cleansers enriched with ingredients like vitamin E oil ; oily skin likes light, balancing face cleansers; sensitive skin likes facial cleansers with biotin and aloe vera; and normal skin is easy and will like most gentle skin cleansers you put on it. Pro tip: Use upward, massaging motions to help delay wrinkles. Wash the cleanser off with a fresh flannel and apply an alcohol-free face toner. Step 2: C hoose a face moisturiser that suits your skin type and massage into your face in the morning before you apply any makeup products – leave the face cream on for at least five minutes. Pro tip : Apply night cream too for super soft skin, and never leave your makeup on overnight! Step 3: Always wear sun protection, even when it’s not so sunny. Choose SPF15 as your bare minimum to protect yourself from harmful and aging UV rays. You don’t necessarily have to use traditional sun cream on your face, just choose a BB cream or foundation with SPF inside. Holland & Barrett have a sun cream range that is made of 100% minerals, is reef-safe and totally vegan friendly – check it out Step 4 : Water, water and more water! Make sure you drink water throughout the day to keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated.