Trust Me, a Skin Detox Could Be Just What You Need to Clear January Breakouts

The New Year is supposed to be a time to embrace a fresh start. Whether you’ve vowed to hit the gym every day or promised yourself you’ll start getting earlier nights, January is usually filled with self-fulfilment. However, when it comes to any kind of skincare resolution, January isn’t always the best time to get stuck in.

While pre-Christmas my skin was radiant, breakout-free and generally in pretty good shape (if I do say so myself), after two weeks of overindulgence, I saw in the New Year with a complexion plagued with sore, red zits. And in fact, spots weren’t my only issue. I found that my skin was dryirritated and, in some areas, even flaky. It was as though this was my body’s way of punishing me for having too much fun over the festive period. Luckily, having learned from previous mistakes, this time around I knew exactly what I needed to do. It was time for a skin detox.

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(Image credit: @EMMAHOAREAU)

This time last year, I was slathering my face in any and every spot-blitzing product available in attempt to clear up my skin. Then, when my face dried up, I drenched it in hydrating ingredients. I followed self-prescribed 10-step regimens and layered on serum after serum, suffocating my skin with active ingredients. Come spring, things weren’t looking too great. In fact, they were 10 times worse than they had been in the New Year. After months of trying to fix my own mess, I finally decided it was time to get some expert help.

It turned out that my skin needed one serious detox, and it was about 10 months too late. Pamela Marshall, clinical aesthetician and co-founder of Mortar & Milk, explains, "The festive season can negatively affect our skin in a number of ways. Lack of sleep, stepping outside of normal food routines and increased alcohol intake all have an impact. A long hormonal domino effect will eventually leave our sebaceous glands overproducing sebum. Too much sebum causes an inflammatory response with an acne spot. On top of all of that, alcohol and cold weather can leave us red and inflamed.”

And while I understood that my skin was in need of some help post–New Year, I couldn’t figure out quite why my thorough routine made the situation worse. "We are conditioned to believe that if we have a breakout, we need to use a load of aggressive actives, and that isn’t always the truth. Too many actives can actually make breakouts worse, inflame the skin and compromise its barrier function,” explains Pamela. 

Sound like something you can relate to? Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about giving your skin a new year detox.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A SKIN DETOX?

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(Image credit: @ASOS_LESLEY)

Simply put, if your skin is really playing up this January, a skin detox is likely to be beneficial. In fact, your skin could benefit from a skin detox in any situation where it looks like it might need some TLC.

As consultant dermatologist Anjali Mahto, BSc, MBBCh, FRCP, reveals, "If you have sensitive skin and suffer from eczema, acne or rosacea, you might find it’s best to avoid products with certain ingredients that may irritate your skin. Be cautious of using those that contain the following: alcohol, fragrance, ammonium lauryl sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, methylisothiazolinone, essential oils, witch hazel and menthol.” She also cautions staying away from exfoliant scrubs or harsh toners which can cause further problems.

"Less is more,” she continues. "Complex skin routines and mixing multiple active ingredients can lead to irritation. You can curate your own pared-back routine by picking skincare items wisely and looking for those that have multipurpose functions.”

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A SKIN DETOX?

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(Image credit: @BAMBIDOESBEAUTY)

A more streamlined skincare regimen will ensure that you’re not confusing your skin and making sure it only gets exactly what it needs, stripping it back to the bare minimum. "Just because there are 50 different ingredients on the market, it doesn't mean we need to use all 50 of them. Using a stripped-back, targeted skincare regimen, designed for your skin type and issues, is much more effective than adding every 'on-trend' ingredient to your routine; it can be cheaper and quicker too,” says Mahto.

On top of the fact your skin will thank you for it, giving your skin a bit of a detox is also likely going to save you time and money. Say goodbye to your half-hour skincare routine of 2019 and welcome a shorter, more simplistic regimen. Plus, it might even help stop you buying unnecessary product.

WHAT DOES A SKIN DETOX ACTUALLY ENTAIL?

Unlike a diet detox, when I’m talking about a skin detox, I mean giving it a real break from all of the products you subject it to every day. It’s about stripping everything right back and only giving your 'skin the ingredients it really needs every day.

"First of all, stop using multiple active ingredients, such as acids and retinols, immediately. Do not apply any scrubs or harsh exfoliators to the skin and use simple, unfragranced products. Skincare routines do not need to be complicated or overly time-consuming,” advises Mahto.

So what sort of products should you be looking for? Think of your skincare as a six-item set up: cleanser, moisturiser, morning serum, evening serum, SPF and a weekly treatment. Mahto advises this: "Your skincare routine very much depends on your skin type or concern that needs to be addressed. I think the basics of any good skincare routine should include an antioxidant serum and sunscreen in the morning and a retinoid product at night.”

Sound like something you might be interested in? Keep scrolling for the best products to help compile your skin detox line up.

Cleanser

Antioxidant Serum

SPF

Retinol

Moisturiser

Treatment

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Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.