How to get a fresh face in five minutes

By Jackie Maxted, founder of http://www.beautyheaven.com.au/

There are two very different ways I like to go to get that lovely, clean, fresh-faced feel – one is for my early morning rising and the other is more of a relaxing, end-of-the-day routine.

For a wake-me-up morning glow, I jump in the shower and switch the water temperature from warm and comforting to cold and shocking! I know it’s a little harsh but it really does make your skin tingle and you know you’re alive. For a great “in the shower” cleanser, I use either the QV Exfoliating Polish or Alpha H Micro Cleanse. Afterwards I prepare my face for the day with a really good moisturiser to prepare my skin for the elements. At the moment I love new Clinique Superdefense SPF25 Moisturiser – it has a wonderful light texture with immediate absorption so applying make-up straight away is easy.

My night time routine is a little more time consuming but I also like to make it relaxing and pleasurable – time to indulge and enjoy my favourite beauty products. Starting off with a make-up remover – I use L’Oreal Paris De-Maq Expert Gel-crème Mousse Expert Make-Up Remover (because I love the smoothness and it works). If it’s a light make-up day I’ll indulge in one of my favourite natural products – Trilogy Cream Cleanser or Dermalogica’s Age Smart Skin Resurfacing Cleanser. Once my skin is feeling clean it’s ready for nourishment after a busy day. At the moment, with the onset of winter and those harsh conditions, I apply Gatineau’s Activ Eclat Concentrate (in a so special teeny-weeny vial) and then using the Activ Éclat Radiance Energising Cream to finish. On other days, for an even richer night repair I’ll use Decleor Aromessence Iris Night Bal.