How to detox your skin for the new year

Give your complexion a much-needed beauty blitz

(Getty Images)

The start of a brand new year, January is the perfect time to make some skincare resolutions.

After weeks of overindulgence, the effects of the festive season – think too much makeup and even more mince pies – have left many of our complexions a little worse for wear and in desperate need of TLC.

Alas, the time has come to ditch that lacklustre post-Christmas guise and give our skin the extra care it needs this month.

Just as you might have heard about a detox for your body, the same sentiment translates to your skincare regime too.

And so, as the old adage goes, it’s out with the old and in with the new.

Your first port of call should be to kick off 2019 with a clean slate and that means investing in a product that will cleanse your skin thoroughly and start your detox as you mean to go on.

Clinique, Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, £24, Feel Unique

Here, we suggest trying out the infamous double-cleanse, which involves using an oil-based cleanser first to melt away makeup, then a traditional cleanser afterwards to rid your face of residual product build up and grime. Use alongside a fresh muslin cloth for best results.

Next, it’s time to bring your skin back to life by removing dead skin cells. Using an exfoliator will not only boost the benefits of your cleanser but also buff away to give you a baby-soft complexion.

Eve Lom, Muslin Cloth x 3, £14, Cult Beauty

Depending on your skin type, a peel is also a great way to achieve that glow-getting effect.

If you’re a newbie, we suggest picking up some acid-based exfoliating pads, which are soaked in similar alpha and beta hydroxy acids to your usual exfoliating toner, but at a higher percentage.

Herbivore, Blue Clay Detoxifying Treatment Mask, £20, Space NK

While they might sound scary, they work wonders when it comes to restoring brightness but if your skin is more on the sensitive side you should proceed with caution.

Face masks are a must too. The ultimate indulgence, they’re the closest you’re going to get to a spa treatment at home and with so many options out there, there really is something for every skin concern.

Pixi, Glow Peel Pads, £16.80, Cult Beauty

While a clay mud mask is one of the best ways to treat clogged pores and congestion, sheet masks are usually saturated in skin-soothing ingredients which penetrate the dermis, and work to hydrate and reduce puffiness.

Finally, indoor heating and outdoor chills are the main culprits when it comes to leaving your skin feeling dehydrated but at this time of year they’re somewhat inevitable.

La Roche-Posay, Nutritic Intense Rich, £12.38, Look Fantastic

As such, it’s a good idea to combat their drying effects with a high-quality moisturiser.

We suggest keeping an eye out for products than contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid which is known for its extra hydrating properties and try to always apply onto damp skin; post-shower and getting it on within a three-minute window will give the best results.