The last few months of the year are packed with exciting events, parties, and social gatherings. But like anything that isn’t in moderation, this can cause some distress to our skin. Less than ideal when prepping for a night out.
To keep your skin looking fresh and radiant during this busy season, it’s a good idea to switch up your winter skincare routine to tackle dryness and dullness. From the best time to do a face mask before an event to expert gua sha techniques, we’ve got all the essential tips to keep your skin party-ready. Plus, we spoke with Shania Parris, winner of Glow Up Season 6, to get her top dos and don’ts for flawless skin prep.
How important is prepping skin for makeup?
“Skin prep is vital, especially during party season”’ advises Shania. Not only does prepping your skin before applying makeup help to create a smooth, long-lasting finish, but “it will allow your festive looks to apply seamlessly” she adds. Investing time in “prepping your skin before makeup will completely transform how your makeup looks and feels”. She tells us “No one wants dry and cracking skin, so make sure to level up your skin prep as we head into the festive season to allow your skin to glow from within.”
The Best Skincare Routine for Party Season Prep
Whether you want to clear your skin, make it glow overnight, or get in a boost of hydration, these are the skin prep tips to follow.
Step 1: Skin treatments
At-home skincare treatments are one of the best solutions to brightening, smoothing, and sculpting your skin for party season.
The FL!KT Photon Silicone LED Mask is an affordable LED mask option to deliver photon treatments from home. It features eight different modes, including red light for fine lines, infrared light for brightening, and blue light for blemishes. To truly prep your skin for party season, use 3-5 times per week for the best results.
When gua sha-ing or rollering your skin for sculpting and depuffing, it’s key to use a good oil or serum to help it glide over your face. This means you can easily cover two skin-prepping steps in one by using a super hydrating oil like The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane with the By BEAUTY BAY Jade Facial Roller. You’ll be hydrating, de-puffing, and helping your skin to glow all in one step. Skin prepping for the party season is that simple.
Step 2: Hydration
“Prepping your skin before makeup allows you to hydrate and plump your skin, which is going to ensure your makeup applies beautifully” says Shania. Keeping skin hydrated is essential for a glowy, plump look, especially before events to make makeup easier to apply and last longer. To boost hydration alongside your daily moisturiser, add a hydrating essence like COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, which refreshes the skin and improves its elasticity.
A hydrating face mist, like our Hyaluronic Acid + Sea Moss Face Mist, can also keep your skin fresh and event-ready. Use it after serums or masks to lock in moisture and achieve a quick, glowy finish. “My favourite skin prep product has to be either the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence or the BEAUTY BAY Hyaluronic Acid + Sea Moss Facial Spray”, agrees Shania.
The night before your event, indulge in a rich moisturiser or an overnight mask, like Laneige’s Cica Sleeping Mask, to wake up with ultra hydrated, baby-soft skin.
Step 3: Serums and face masks
If dewy and bright skin is your goal, then try a serum or a face mask. Serums are concentrated formulas that deliver powerful active ingredients deep into the skin.
For bounce and hydration, opt for a serum or mask with hyaluronic acid or ectoin. These ingredients can significantly boost moisture levels and add radiance to your skin. We recommend The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum, which is proven to add hydration to skin is just 15 minutes. A soothing mask the night before your event will also help you achieve a plump and dewy finish. A rich, creamy mask like the Laneige Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask nurtures your skin overnight targeting dryness, dullness, and loss of firmness. So, your skin’s left more radiant-looking, bouncier, and glowier.
Niacinamide is one of the best ingredients for brightening skin, so we recommend trying the ANUA Niacinamide 10% TXA 4% Serum. It will help to rebalance uneven tones, brighten acne scars, and boost your skin’s luminosity for a truly glowy complexion.
Step 4: Spot treatments
Prepping for a big event but prone to breakouts? Having some effective spot treatments in your skincare supply is a great way to keep blemishes at bay. While it can be difficult to achieve clear skin quickly if you’re in the midst of a breakout, using some targeted spot treatments can be a big help.
Luckily for those of us aiming for clearer skin before an event, there’s a variety of products out there that work to treat unwanted spots. From fast-acting treatments like The INKEY List Succinic Acid Treatment to blemish battling Hero Might Spot Patches, get ready to take back control of your skin.
Step 5: Exfoliation
Exfoliation is an essential part of skin prep, helping remove dead skin cells so other products absorb better and makeup applies smoothly. Be cautious if you have sensitive or breakout-prone skin – you should only exfoliate once every two weeks if this is the case. Mandelic acid is a gentler alternative to glycolic and salicylic acids, so we recommend The INKEY List’s Mandelic Acid Treatment, which smooths without causing irritation.
For a stronger exfoliating product, we love The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. Working to fight blemishes as well as clear pores to leave your complexion looking clearer, this product shouldn’t be used on sensitive and damaged skin. This is available in a duo set with The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 which rehydrates skin post-exfoliation. We also love the Medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0 as they’re a good middle ground for deeply clearing skin and lifting away dead skin cells without causing irritation.
