The Best Products for Glowing Skin Top to Toe

Glowing healthy skin is the ultimate summer ACCESSORY. pairing perfectly with every outfi, it’s one trend that is always in fashion.

The billions spent each year on skincare show just how determined we are in our quest for glowing skin. But if we really want our skin to glow from top to toe, it’s important to know what products are worth paying for and how to use them.

EXFOLITAING

First of Exfoliation. The first stage of your glowing skin journey may seem like an obvious one but it is surprising how many people do not know how to exfoliate properly, either acting too roughly or exfoliating too frequently. Not exfoliating correctly can damage your skin barrier causing it to become sore, red and inflamed, the exact opposite of what you were trying to achieve in the first place.

When exfoliating your face, neck and décolletage, it’s important to not to be too vigourous, opting for a chemical exfoliant instead of the traditional physical scrub, as they tend to be more gentle and controlled in their exfoliation. Usually taking the form of a liquid toner or an pre-drenched pad, chemical exfoliants contain ingredients such as AHAs (glycolic & lactic acid), BHAs (salicylic acids) and /or the more gentle PHAs (gluconolactone, lactobionic acid). Applied after your cleanse before your serums, just lightly sweep over your skin.

Remember, less is more, when it comes to exfoliating. Two to three times a week is more than enough for those with normal to oily skin. For those with sensitive skin you want to cut right back to once a week using a more gentle exfoliant such as Azeliac acid. Two of our favourite exfoliating toners, both cult products in their own rights include Ren’s Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic £45 with both lactic and azelaic acid to gently resurface and brighten, and Glow Recipes's Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore Tight Toner £31 for it’s ability to gently refine and decongest problem pores for ultra-smooth, radiant skin.

Of course, the face and neck is just 9% of the skins surface and with the weather heating up, its more important than ever to give the skin of your body the same love and attention. From dry body brushing, to physical scrubs, exfoliating serums and even shower gels, there really is something for everyone.

Dry body brushing is one practice really worth fitting into your routine. Not only will it remove dead skin cells for supper soft skin, but it takes ingrown hair, aids circulation helping improve the appearance of your skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite. The Aromatherapy Associates Polishing Brush £28 has been specifically designed to invigorate the epidermis, boosting cell turnover. We recommend brushing in upward strokes towards your heart to aid circulation.

Physical scrubs such as the Keys Soulcare Body Polish £25 are a great alternative for those who aren’t keen on the ideal of body brushing, as the massage process involved in the application of the scrub also has lymphatic and circulatory benefits. Containing a blend of glycolic and lactic acids, as well as detoxifying bamboo charlco and nourishing sunflower seeds, this regenerating body polish is a multi award winner for good reason..

Looping back to the chemical exfoliants, Sundae Body’s Green Tea Exfoliating Whipped Shower Foam £12.99 is part of the new breed of active packed body care.

Not only does it leave you smelling lovely but it’s full of all our favourite skin loving ingredients including vitamin C-filled kakadu plum to brighten and smooth, and finger lime, a natural source of exfoliating AHAs.

Lastly, we can talk about chemical exfoliation’s without a mention of CosRx’s AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner £20. Technically created to be used on the face, it’s amazing ability to reducing spots, blackheads, whiteheads, ingrown hairs and dry skin, makes it a summer must have for for flawless looking legs.

Activate your Skincare

Now you’ve prepped you skin, its time to think about glow giving actives. The industry standard for radiant skin are your vitamins c’s and your vitamins A’s, aka your reintnols.

VITMAIN C

When it comes to vitamin c’s for your face, Ubana Beauty’s luxurious Brighten Maximum Glow Serum £180 contains a patterned hyperpigmentation-preventing alpha arbutin and brightening vitamin C, for an unbeatable lit from within glow. While HydroPeptide’s powerful LumaPro-C Serum Skin Brightening Pigment Corrector £127 works will fade the appearance of existing dark spots while helping to reduce the appearance of pigmentation.

For firmer, fresher, tighter, brighter-looking skin all over your body, look no further than Beauty Pie’s Superdose Vitamin C Bio-Vitamin Brightening & Firming Body Lotion £55 (£15 member price). Doing the job of a serum and a moisturiser in one, this high-tech, radiance-boosting, body lotion, is jam packed with actives including Tranexamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, firming Brown Algae and stable vitamin C. Use daily for the fastest brightening, firming and rejuvenating effects, or use 2-3 times weekly to help prevent signs of aging.

RETINOL

The beauty industry’s top secret ingredient hasn’t been secret with for a while now. And why should it be when the rejuvenating, brightening and anti-aging are so impressive.. Kick-starting cells while you sleep to promote the production of collagen and elastin, retinol is the king of glow givers.

Not sure which one to go for? For a retinol that takes no prisoner (but might come with some down time) it’s got to be Zo Skin Health’s transformative Radical Night Repair Serum £186 . If you have more sensitive skin, newer to the retinol game or just want the benefits but none of the the irritation, Alpha-H Sleep Power Peel £69.99 (with 0.5% retinol) is regenerative powerhouse.

Thought retinol was just for your face? Not any more, thanks to influx rentiol infused body care hitting our shelves including Environ’s award winning Body EssentiA Body Oil £46 containing a potent blend vitamin’s A, C and E. Another game changer is Paula’s Choice Retinol Body Treatment £33 . Working to improving the appearance of fine lines, it tackles uneven tone and sun-damaged skin. As with your facial retinol products, it’s essential you apply sufficient amounts of SPF when exposed to the sun.

HYDRATION HYDRATION HYDRATION

The final stage in your journey to glowing skin, is all about hydrating and plumping, for smooth the skin and protected barrier.

Hyaluronic acid is known as a super hydrate, thanks to its ability to hold up to 1,000x its own weight in water. Dr. Barbara Sturms’ Hyaluronic Serum £250 contains highly concentrated long- and short-chain hyaluronic molecules for for immediate and intense hydration, plumping the skin and minimising wrinkles.

Another tech driven hydrator that really pacts a punch is Eighth Day Regenerative Serum £270. Packed full of power house ingredients including hyaluronic acid, amino rich peptides and glycolic acid, this lightweight formula will leave your skin looking radiant and refreshed.

Prefer an oil? ReVive’s Moisturizing Renewal Oil Triple Defense Hydrator £140 is is enriched with a hydrating complex of powerful oils, lipids and squalane to help strengthen the skin’s barrier and leave skin feeling soothed, nourished and glowing.

Not forgetting the skin on our body, Verso, the Swedish skincare brand famed for its retinol range, have created another game changing product with their simply titled Body Lotion £55. Formulated with Vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, this nourishing lotion encourages a hydrated and smooth complexion. While the added addition of hydrolysed yeast extract, allantoin, avena kernel oil and flower, and oats help to enhance the skin’s suppleness and ability to fight pollutants and allergens. The final result? Visibly improve skin tone and texture, as well as a healthy natural barrier. We’re hooked.