THE JOURNAL

2 MINUTE READ
The Grooming Products To Refresh Your Skin Before Returning To Civilisation
Words by Mr Ashley Clarke
18 May 2021

You either have to be preposterously attractive or preposterously delusional not to have had your self-esteem decimated in the unforgiving light of a Zoom call over the past year. It has not, I think we can all agree, been a time any of us have spent feeling “well-coiffed”. So, to convince the world that you actually haven’t spent many months mouldering away in alternating half-light of work emails and Netflix, you’ll need to introduce some powered-up products to your grooming routine to propel you out of the gloom and into the light. This, you’ll be pleased to know, is all incredibly easy. Scroll down for the products to use to emerge from your lockdown cocoon if not as a butterfly, then at least as a man who looks like he’s trying his best.

01.
The glow-giving serum
Don’t let the soft pink colour fool you, this resurfacing serum is powerful stuff. Formulated by Tata Harper, a brand that is committed to providing natural and sustainable skincare, it’s stuffed with antioxidants and AHAs and BHAs (acids that gently dissolve dead skin cells) and works surprisingly fast – a couple of uses is enough to get dull skin looking much healthier.

02.
The brightening cleanser
A useful grooming fact for you: vitamin C helps brighten up the skin by interrupting pigment production and stopping inflammation. 111SKIN has expertly fused it into this cleanser, which gently exfoliates the skin while fighting dullness. Just use a couple of pumps a day and this stuff will last you months.

03.
The anti-ageing oil
La Mer’s Renewal Oil works to replenish skin with nutrients and boost collagen, meaning it’s particularly good if you’re leaving lockdown with more wrinkles than you’d like. It’ll work best on the face, of course (especially on fine lines around the eyes), but it can also be used on your cuticles and even your hair.

04.
The essential SPF
As any skincare obsessive will tell you, SPF is non-negotiable. Sun damage is the leading cause of ageing and if you’re going outside this summer – even on a cloudy day – your skin will benefit from being protected. Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Sun Drops are the gold standard, offering SPF50 for serious protection. Keep the bottle next to your moisturiser, and simply mix a couple of drops in before heading out – Future You will thank Present You.

05.
The anti-pollution ampoules
Pollution might seem like a far-removed issue when it comes to skincare, but there’s plenty of research to show that toxic air can accelerate ageing. Your best line of defence is to move to the middle of nowhere, but the next best thing is this Pollution Skin Defence System by Susanne Kaufmann. Working as a kind of 15-day “course” for your skin, apply one ampoule of serum to your face each day to protect your skin from free radicals and stop your environment getting the better of you.