Balancing life in this modern world is a challenging task. And when the stress of life starts to show in your skin, you may be wondering what is happening. I see many women who have spent years juggling life, career, children, family commitments and changing hormones, and their biggest request? How not to look so tired. And as a busy career-focused woman myself, I can relate.

So, if your complexion needs a little love, care, or attention, I have broken down some of my favourite ways to inject some life and radiance back into your skin, even if you have no time.

Bring back your glow 

When our skin glows, our confidence is instantly restored. And the best way to achieve this is with a facial. Now, you may be tempted to buy at-home facial gadgets, and while there are some great ones, if you’re busy, chances are, you’ll soon stop finding time to use them.

Instead, invest in advanced facials, many of which can be done in your lunch break and with little to no downtime, so you don’t need to worry about taking time off. My favourite is the HydraFacial which is designed to maximise skin health, delivering a relaxing resurfacing of the skin to address skin issues such as acne, rosacea and pigmentation whilst maximising skin glow. Alternatively you may be more suited to a targeted chemical peel or a bespoke facial containing a variety of techniques and modalities perfectly tailored to your skin’s current condition.

Master your at-home skincare routine

Your skincare routine is the bread and butter of beautiful skin. If you’re busy, and have little time to dedicate to your skin, it doesn’t need to be complicated, just stick to the essentials. Ditch the makeup wipes and opt for something that will give your skin a thorough, deep cleanse, such as a good cream or foaming cleanser. You can even do a facial wash in the shower if you’re starved of time, but it’s crucial to remove makeup, debris and any build-up of pollution that has accumulated throughout the day (and night).

Next, if you really want to work wonders, add an antioxidant serum into your routine. Antioxidants protect the skin by reducing free radical production – the process that breaks down collagen and damages otherwise healthy skin cells. They reduce pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles.

As one of the most potent antioxidants, Vitamin C is well known and well documented to be helpful to skin rejuvenation and skin health in general – it’s fantastic for brightening and smoothing. As are AHA’s (essentially fruit acids), which are often used to reduce the size of pores, particularly in acne-prone skin.

Now, if preventative ageing is your goal, one of the only proven ingredients to produce visible anti-ageing benefits is retinol, and it’s a skilful multi-tasker. Retinol increases cell turnover and stimulates collagen and elastin production. It also firms the skin, diminishes the look of fine lines, wrinkles and improves skin tone and texture. It’s a gold standard ingredient for treating everything from pigmentation to acne and wrinkles.

We all know just how crucial sunscreen is. Make sure the one you choose is a broad spectrum with a high SPF to ensure you’re protecting the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. This is especially important if you’re using active ingredients in your regime because products such as retinol will make your skin more prone to sun sensitivity.

Multi-mask 

Masks are an excellent way to target specific skin concerns quickly and effectively. You can easily pop them on and then go about other chores until it’s time to wash off. I love the SkinCeuticals Phytocorrective mask for targeting dry, stressed, or irritated skin. Revision Skincare Pore Purifying Clay mask is great for unclogging pores and deeply cleansing the skin. And the Meder Beauty Hydrafill sheet mask is my go-to for hydrating and replenishing the complexion. I love a sheet mask, but I get a bit impatient because if I try to sit up or do anything, they tend to slip down my face. However, the Meder masks have little slits to hook over your ears, so the mask feels really snug and secure around your jawline and stays in place.

If you’re really strapped for time – splash your face with cold water and switch the shower temperature to cold just for a few seconds. This will boost circulation, give you a healthy glow, your complexion a revived appearance, and support your incredible lymphatic system.

Add a collagen supplement

 The brands containing enough of the right sort of collagen can make a significant difference to the skin and are quick and easy to add into your daily routine. Studies have shown that oral intake of collagen peptides can reduce fine lines and wrinkles and have several other beneficial effects on the skin.

Optimum collagen levels don’t last, and once we hit 25, production starts to slow down – inducing a loss of elasticity, firmness, and luminosity. When collagen breakdown begins, the skin gradually loses that scaffolding, and it starts to look frail and collapses more easily into folds. While we can’t prevent these changes, there are things that we can do like introduce collagen supplements, skincare and tweakments to slow them down.

I take Skin Fusion by Zenii, which is brimming with marine extract collagen, vitamins A, B, C, D, zinc, and hyaluronic acid. I simply mix it with half a glass of sparkling water in the morning, and it goes down a treat.

Cut down on toxins

As much as you can (and as hard as it may be when you’re tired and busy) try to cut down on things like caffeine, alcohol, and sugar – your skin will thank you for it. Too much coffee can dehydrate the skin, as can alcohol which causes premature ageing. And sugar causes inflammation within the body, leading to collagen breakdown. It’s not about cutting these things out altogether, just enjoy them in moderation alongside a healthy diet and plenty of water intake.

Explore tweakments

Lastly, depending on your concerns, you may see the most significant results with the right tweakments. A sprinkling of Botox around the eyes for a subtle refresh perhaps, or a touch of filler in the cheeks to rebuild lost volume and gently lift the lower face. If your main concerns are jowls, a sagging neck, or deeper wrinkles, we may look at how energy devices like Sofwave or Profound RF can help.

If you’re keen to kickstart your skin health journey, begin with a consultation to discover a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Book a consultation or enquire here.