On the days when inane beauty launches land on my desk – please God, not another shimmery lip gloss – I remind myself that trialling the latest products in the name of work is not a terrible gig. That said, it remains a double-edged sword.
Trying a lot of different treatments means your skin is susceptible to something going wrong. Usually, I get the balance right. I am careful not to use a lot of actives all at once; I stagger products so I’m not overloading the skin, and from time to time I use trusted guinea pigs so that my face doesn’t fall off.
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Still, even with the best precautions, if you are stressed (hello, modern life) your skin might simply decide to respond badly to new products. Which is why my skin lost the plot recently; a rash descended across my face, evolving into spots.
At this point, you need to do whatever is necessary to get your stress levels down (if it’s extreme, get medical advice). In the meantime look for products to soothe and calm the skin while you wait for it to return to normal. Avoid anything harsh. You will also need a vat of patience – irritation doesn’t disappear straight away – and thick skin. That way you won’t weep every time you look in the mirror.
My top 10
1.
Dr Barbara Sturm Calming Serum £185, barbarasturm.co.uk
2.
Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream £15, drjart.co.uk
3.
Clarins Soothing After Sun Balm £29, sephora.co.uk
4.
4. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser £12.50, boots.com
5.
Omorovicza Elixir £175, spacenk.com
6.
Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream £32.90, helloseoul.co.uk
7.
Medik8 Ultimate Recovery £39, lookfantastic.com
8.
Paula’s Choice Rescue & Repair Intensive Moisturizer £39, paulaschoice.co.uk
9.
Rhode Skin Barrier Restore Cream £32, rhodeskin.com
10.
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm £38, cultbeauty.com
Photograph by Getty Images