Stressed skin saviours

We’ve all been there – sat up until the early hours of the morning (or all night) faced with a blank Word document and a matter of hours until your submission deadline. Whilst we sit in the stuffy library knocking back energy drinks and surviving on a diet of Sainsbury’s meal deals our skin is the last thing on our minds; but the result of this writing rampage can take its toll, leaving its marks on our faces in the weeks to come. Whether your skin is dry and flaky or oily and spot-prone, we have the solution.

Dry – You may already be noticing the effects of the harsh winter on your skin; combine this with stress and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a skin disaster. This calls for a heavy-duty moisturiser that can keep your face protected and prevent flaky, itchy skin. Avene’s Eau Thermale Avene Rich Compensating Cream is great for boosting hydration without clogging pores, and its non-greasy texture provides the perfect make up base. For intense moisturisation, use a mask that can be left on overnight. Try Clinique’s Moisture Surge Overnight Mask and let it do the work for you as you take that well-earned rest.

Oily – Oily skin tends to face a different set of problems. Stress and lack of sleep can cause an onslaught of spots, resulting in the application of more makeup and the start of a vicious cycle in the battle against bad skin. A good cream is essential for targeting breakouts – Vichy’s Hyaluspot Cream reduces spots within a matter of hours and also helps to prevent the lingering marks they tend to leave behind. However, spot treatments can result in over-drying and a peeling effect. La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar H Multi-Compensating Soothing Moisturiser was created to counter this exact problem, containing the essential ingredients for moisturising without producing an excess of sebum and a greasy-sheen.