Move Over, Glass Skin. Warm, Golden Hour Skin Is Your New Goal This Year

Work towards an even, regular surface by incorporating exfoliating skincare, such as chemical peels, into your beauty routine. Look for products formulated with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)—think glycolic, mandelic, lactic and citric acids—which help gently loosen dead skin cells on the skin’s surface so that they can be easily sloughed away, revealing a brighter, smoother and clearer look.

Related article: How Do You Know Your Makeup Has Expired?

The gold standard for at-home peels is Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel ($135 for a box of 30 treatments), which can be used once or twice a week.

You can also consider supplementing that with serums that encourage skin cell renewal, such as For Beloved One’s 21% Mandelic Acid Perfect Ratio Complex Intensive Renewing Brightening Peel ($55).



 

Related article: Does “Instant” Skincare Really Work?

Those with sensitive skin would want to opt instead for polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), a gentler alternative to AHAs. The downside, though, is that PHAs have comparatively larger molecules and are thus unable to penetrate the skin as deeply as AHAs. Nonetheless, it is a better choice for those with a delicate skin type, as PHAs are said to cause less irritation to the skin.

The LumiWhite 10% PHA Resurfacing Glow Serum from ést.lab ($168) is perfect in this case, as it helps to not only improve skin clarity, but also lighten pigmentation, reduce the appearance of fine lines and hydrate skin.

Related article: Indulge In These 10 Facial Cleansers For The Best Cleansing Experience

SkinCeuticals's Phyto Corrective Hyaluronic Acid Serum simultaneously calms and hydrates while addressing discolouration.

This lightweight gel serum is tough on pimple-causing bacteria but doesn’t cause the skin around the pimples to dry out or flake, disrupting the skin’s overall texture.

This is a skin-plumping, radiance-imparting face oil.

As for makeup, start with a product that addresses the skin’s texture. “It’s as simple as smoothing out the skin with a primer such as the KOSE Esprique Comfort Makeup Cream SPF 50+/PA++++  to ensure a uniform texture,” says makeup artist and beauty educator Larry Yeo.

“Try not to use a powder highlighter, as we want a soft finish that looks like [the skin’s] beautifully lit by the sun’s rays,” Yeo explains. Use the highlighter sparingly (you don’t want the harsh, streaky looks often seen on Instagram) to create a light and airy golden veil on the high points of the face, such as the cheekbones, brow bone and nose bridge.

Note, though, that makeup that lends a gold sheen to the skin can end up looking too yellow on fair and porcelain complexions. The remedy? Yeo suggests using Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, which “can give skin that glistening effect without any colour payoff”.  

If you have to add colour to the mix, go for sunset hues. Try a touch of sepia on the eyes, such as the Sunnies Face Eyecrayon in Bambi, to lend warmth to your gaze.

Or blend out a muted peach, such as M.A.C’s Powder Kiss Lipstick in Mull It Over, over the lips using your finger to give your pout a light, velvety wash of colour instead of a bold, uniform tone. And there you have it: A face that captures all the beauty of the golden hour.