Keeping your skin inflammation free is the first crucial step to cloudless skin and we believe this really starts from the inside out. Our favourite beauty guru, Carla Oates aka The Beauty Chef points out that "our appearance is a reflection of what is happening internally, which means an outer glow begins deep within your digestive system". Try consuming less sugar, gluten, alcohol, refined carbs and processed foods as well as adding a superfood (or as we like to say, beautyfood!) to your diet. It can be super easy - check out how we like to eat for beauty on The Essential. Amping up on antioxidants, particularly vitamin E, helps repair and rejuvenate skin as well as address fine lines and skin firmness.
Shop Antioxidant Inner Beauty Boost, The Beauty Chef, HK$240
Now that you're taking care of your skin on the inside, it's time to think about the outside. Munemi Imai of Mun tells us that "cleansers should work in tandem with our natural pH level, not against it". Our skin's pH level, or acid mantle, which refers to how acidic or alkaline it is. Everyone starts with a neutral pH value, however as we grow older, the pH starts to become more neutral or alkaline, giving space for the infections to grow and skin problems to occur. To keep your skin healthy and to get that ‘glowing look’, we recommend cleansers with a pH range of 4 to 7.
Shop Akwi Clarifying Cleanser, Mun, HK$520
After creating cleansed and pH balanced skin as the foundation to a cloudless complexion, it’s important to hydrate and protect it from environmental stressors throughout the day to avoid dull and clogged skin. Mun often emphasises how dry, dehydrated skin can be a cause of dull, lacklustre skin. Fine lines may even appear more prominent, so your skin needs all the moisture it can get to look luminous.
We cannot stress the next point enough - wear SPF daily! Even if it's cloudy outside, everyone should be applying sunscreen. UVA causes premature ageing and wrinkling of the skin, while UVB radiation is closely linked with the development of skin cancer and melanoma (read more about this at the EWG, one of our favourite online resources). This is why it is important to protect your skin from the sun due to ultraviolet radiation.
Shop Natural Moisturising Face Sunscreen and Primer, Suntegrity, HK$420
With all three above steps in place, it’s now time for what seems to be the hardest part these days - getting enough sleep (but we tell you how right here)! Whether you’re busy parenting or working around the clock (or both!), it's important to understand that stress and lack of sleep can really wreak havoc on your skin. The recommended sleep period is between 7 to 9 hours per night, so try taking active steps to relax and unwind. Meditation, yoga and bathing are all great ways to boost relaxation, reduce stress and ultimately, help in your quest for cloudless skin.
As advocates of cloudless skin will point out, these steps all take time, so try to stay committed. We’d love to hear your thoughts so please share your own cloudless skin routine with us in the comment below!