Skincare for a Radiant Tet

"Hearing spring arrive, my heart overflows" – are you feeling the excitement yet? And how is your skincare coming along so you can welcome spring looking confident and radiant? This is the time of year when you pay extra attention to your appearance, because there are so many people to meet and greet. But is your skin crying out for help?

In this article, join Lunaria to find out what makes skin lose its glow, and pick up some "express" skincare secrets that are simple and science-based, helping you shine with confidence while still saving time.

THE MAIN REASONS SKIN LOSES ITS GLOW DURING TET

Before getting into Tet skincare tips, you need to know the main factors that make your skin deteriorate so quickly.

Wearing makeup often but neglecting skincare

During Tet, every woman wants to look pretty and stand out. So you tend to wear more elaborate, heavier makeup than usual, and you often choose long-wearing products to keep your makeup flawless all day long. This is the number one reason skin becomes congested and prone to breakouts.

Direct exposure to sunlight, smoke and dust

Rushing around shopping, wrapping up work, going on spring outings, visiting relatives and so on – all these activities keep you outdoors a lot, exposing your skin to sunlight, smoke and dust. This is also why skin becomes noticeably dull and easily irritated. Ultraviolet rays damage the surface tissue, making skin more prone to melasma and dark spots. UVA and UVB rays break down collagen, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and weakening its immune defences.

Often skipping the basic daily cleansing steps

On top of that, a whole day of New Year visits and hosting guests leaves you exhausted, so you often rush through your basic daily cleansing and skincare steps. Leftover makeup residue also makes skin look dull and more prone to breakouts. If you don't remove your makeup and cleanse at the end of the day, your skin can easily become rough and full of hidden bumps.

Uncontrolled eating and drinking

One of the reasons skin breaks out more is uncontrolled eating during Tet. Eating lots of fatty foods makes digestion harder, and the excess oil builds up under the skin, disrupting the natural function of the sebaceous glands. In addition, cakes, candies and candied fruits are high in sugar, which stimulates the sebaceous glands to work harder. The extra oil clogs pores and leads to acne.

Alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine, as well as fizzy drinks, also dehydrate and dry out the skin. At the same time, they push the sebaceous glands to produce more oil and weaken the skin's resistance, making breakouts inevitable.

Staying up late

Night-time sleep is when the body flushes out toxins, and it is the ideal time to rest after a long, busy day. However, amid the excitement of Tet, people tend to party and have fun late into the night, not to mention staying up to welcome the New Year... This throws your body clock off and affects your skin's health. Not only does the eye area develop dark circles and wrinkles, but other areas also become dull and age faster.

SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE SKINCARE SECRETS

If the days before Tet are when you diligently pamper your skin, the period during and after Tet is often when it gets "neglected". How can you keep your skin fresh and radiant throughout the holiday? Let's look at a few ways below.

Add skin-rejuvenating foods to your diet

Choosing foods that rejuvenate the skin is an effective way to improve dull skin after Tet. After days of banh chung, banh tet and spring rolls, don't forget to add more vegetables and fruit to your daily menu.

Fruit and vegetables are rich in water, fibre and vitamins. They not only beautify the skin but also aid digestion and help flush out toxins. Good choices include pineapple, lemon, orange, tangerine, pomelo and avocado. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, which helps fight wrinkles and limit their formation.

Care for your skin properly

Wash your face and cleanse properly

This is a very important step in your skincare routine. Choosing gentle cleansing products that suit your skin will save you both money and time. It lays the groundwork for deeply cleansed skin that readily absorbs the nutrients that follow.

Learn the golden rule: "moisturise, moisturise"

Tet usually falls during cold weather, when skin easily loses its natural oils and becomes dry, rough, cracked, bumpy and dull. If your skin stays dehydrated for a long time, it will age prematurely.

Skin Smoothing Cream by Dermalogica – a moisturiser that hydrates continuously for 48 hours

So remember to give your skin enough moisture so it regains its smooth, plump, dewy look in time for Tet. And remember to use only moisturisers made from gentle, natural ingredients.

Protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen

Many people assume that the run-up to Tet is winter, when there is little or only weak sunshine, so their skin doesn't need protection from UV rays. That's a mistake! Whether it is sunny or overcast, indoors or outdoors, you should always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Your skin is best protected when you apply enough of the right sunscreen, which helps prevent melasma, dark spots and aging so your skin stays healthy and beautiful.

Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 – a purely chemical sunscreen from Dermalogica's Age Smart line

Note: apply a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher 15–30 minutes before going out. Then, depending on the actual weather, reapply every 2–4 hours. Protective items such as hats, sunglasses, jackets and sun-protective skirts are also great allies in caring for your skin.

Be careful with high-concentration treatment products

In cosmetics, a treatment is simply a targeted product. It contains concentrated active ingredients, used at appropriate concentrations as prescribed by dermatologists, to address skin concerns such as melasma, dullness, aging, freckles, acne and enlarged pores.

However, dermatologists advise against using them right before Lunar New Year, because your skin may not yet be used to high-concentration treatment products. This can lead to peeling, redness or irritation.

So you should avoid targeted treatment skincare products in the run-up to Tet to keep your skin from looking its worst.

Care for your skin by managing stress and getting enough sleep

Physical and mental wellbeing are important factors that directly affect your skin's health from within. Prolonged stress and lack of sleep have many consequences. They not only cause memory loss, poor concentration and weight gain, but also lead to breakouts, rough and lifeless skin, "panda" dark circles and more. So to have healthy, radiant skin in time for Tet, pay more attention to your physical and mental wellbeing. After a stressful day at work, take time to rest, relax and get a full 8 hours of sleep a day.

Drink enough water every day – a simple skincare habit you almost always forget

According to experts, water is the "elixir" for healthy, youthful skin. When you drink enough water, your skin stays hydrated and keeps its natural elasticity. It also helps prevent flaking, makes skin smoother and helps prevent aging and acne. So keep drinking 2 litres a day for smooth, plump and vibrant skin.

Facial massage

Facial massage is relaxing and boosts blood circulation, leaving skin rosy and smooth. It also firms the skin and helps reduce sagging, wrinkles, acne and more. Proper facial massage is a technique that stimulates acupressure points on the face, neck and shoulders. You can use moisturiser, massage oil, facial oil or a face roller to massage your face.

Keep a relaxed state of mind

During Tet, many women are kept busy cooking, preparing offerings and hosting parties, which can be stressful and overwhelming. This takes a toll on both your mental health and your skin. So always try to stay relaxed, cheerful and positive – that is how you keep a fresh, radiant look.

We hope this article has given you some handy skincare secrets for busy times like the Tet holiday. Smooth, glowing skin will help you feel more confident – the perfect start to a lucky and successful new year 2024. And don't forget to contact Lunaria right away if you need advice from a skin master to improve your skin concerns effectively and scientifically!

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