When you’re in the business of skincare, one question reigns supreme: what is healthy skin – and how do we achieve it? To me, skin health is not about being free from every flaw, imperfection, freckle, or scar. Healthy skin is your skin, performing at its best. Healthy skin is skin that glows, even on makeup free days. Especially makeup free days.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but these are my ‘tried and trues’ – the things that have worked for me during my 18 years at the helm of Antipodes. From oils to antioxidants: read on for my eight essentials to harness your healthiest-looking skin.
1. Take a holistic approach
It’s a cliché, but getting the big things right – nutrition, exercise, stress, and sleep – are key to healthy skin. As CEO, my health needs to be in tip top shape to manage the demands of a busy company. When those things aren’t in balance, it shows on my skin in the form of dullness, dehydration, and breakouts. In a perfect world we’d all be moving our bodies in a way that feels good every day, eating daily greens, and getting a full eight-hour sleep (easier said than done). But if I’m ticking some of the boxes, most of the time, I’m happy – and so is my skin.
2. Get your 5+ a day – inside and out
I try to start the day with a green juice so I can get lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables into my diet right off the bat. Antioxidants are key to protecting skin against cellular damage caused by free radicals. I like my skincare ‘diet’ to reflect my own healthy diet. Products with vitamin C-rich ingredients, such as kakadu plum, kiwi seed oil, antioxidant-rich Vinanza® Grape, nutrient-rich avocado oil, and mānuka honey are just some of the staples in my routine.
3. Move your body
Exercise is key to keeping skin clear, so I always make time for it. A 30-minute HIIT class at the gym means I’m in and out the door in under an hour. Exercise stimulates blood flow, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the surface of the skin – and delivers the kind of glow people pay for.
When I’m not at the gym, I’m a big believer in getting out into nature to realign my spirit and self. I take Molly, our dog, and go for a bush walk to clear out the cobwebs. Nature provides me with my inspiration, and inspiration is always energising.
4. Invest in the big three
Did you know it’s a myth that drinking water can re-hydrate your skin from the inside? For skin that feels as good on the outside as it does on the inside, nourishing skincare products are critical to keeping the top layer of skin (the epidermis) hydrated and protected.
If time, budget, or shelf space is limited, invest in the best cleanser, serum, and moisturiser that you can afford. These are the three products that are going to have the biggest impact on your skin’s health. Why?
- A well-chosen cleanser will remove skin-clogging dirt and impurities without stripping your all-important skin barrier
- Your serum delivers a concentrated dose of nutrient-rich ingredients to your skin. Its light molecular weight helps the product penetrate the topmost layer of skin more effectively
- Moisturisers don’t just keep skin hydrated. They form a seal over your skin, providing a layer of protection against pollutants and irritants, and preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL)
5. See double
Cleansing is the foundation of healthy skin, so I never miss this step, even when I’m out late. For a thorough, rejuvenating cleanse, take two. Double cleansing removes makeup, lifts impurities, and gently exfoliates dead cells – giving skin a fresh start.
I start with a balm cleanser, such as Grapeseed Butter Cleanser, to melt off makeup; then follow with a light, creamy cleanser such as Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser to rinse away stubborn impurities and leave skin feeling soft and replenished.
6. Oils and gels make great highlighters
After your day cream, a few drops of a face oil can provide subtle highlights or a dewy sheen – and deliver an extra nutrient-boost that makeup simply can’t. Apply a few drops of Divine Face Oil or Glow Ritual Vitamin C Serum to the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones, and cupid’s bow; or massage all over for skin that looks drenched in moisture.
7. Multipurpose? It’s a must-have
Sustainability is part of our ethos at Antipodes. This includes high-quality formulations that last the distance on your shelf; premium recyclable packaging that contributes to less waste in landfill; and products that can serve a range of functions, reducing the need for purchasing unnecessary extras.
An example? I’ll use Saviour Skin Balm to smooth flyaway hairs, hydrate dry skin, and as a lip conditioner (it’s also a perfect soothing balm for nappy rash). Twice a week I’ll use Aura Manuka Honey Mask for some much-needed downtime – but it’s an effective spot treatment, too, thanks to the antibacterial properties of manuka honey, which help to target blemishes.
8. SPF daily
Healthy skin needs SPF, whatever the season. My only rule for application is a simple one: use it daily, religiously, and without fail. I apply my SPF at the end of my routine before makeup.
My AM-PM skincare ritual
I have dry, sensitive skin, so I’m always looking for products that soothe, calm, and strengthen my skin barrier, whilst also helping my skin to look its healthy best. Yes, I ask a lot of my skincare regime!
The winter weather can have my skin feeling dull and dehydrated, so I’m loving vitamin C products to keep my skin looking bright. In the morning I’ll reach straight for Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser. It’s formulated with lotus flower and meadowfoam, which help to replenish the skin’s lipid barrier as it cleanses. I follow Gospel with 3-4 drops of Glow Ritual Vitamin C Serum, to give my skin a luminous, dewy finish, and lock it all in with Diem Vitamin C Pigment-Correcting Water Cream.
All three of these products harness kakadu plum, which is nature’s richest source of vitamin C -containing 100x the vitamin C of oranges! Vitamin C can be sensitising, but because Antipodes uses vitamin C from a natural source, the products are gentle on my sensitive skin.
A spritz of Ananda Antioxidant-Rich Gentle Toner throughout the day keeps my skin calm and hydrated – it’s a great one to have in the handbag, especially when I have a lot of external meetings and are constantly moving from indoors, with harsh air conditioning and heating, to the wild Wellington wind outdoors.
A night cream is incredibly important as skin loses moisture throughout the night. During the colder months I’ll choose an ultra-rich night cream such as Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream. In summer, when my skin is naturally producing more sebum (oil), a light water cream such as Culture Probiotic Night Recovery Water Cream is perfect. It’s formulated with an innovative probiotic called Kalibiome AGE, which helps balance the microbiome to keep my skin calm, clear, and hydrated. The perfect vision of healthy skin to wake up to.
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