Before you even consider reaching for your foundation or swiping on some mascara, it’s important to be confident and happy with your canvas – your skin. Our skin care needs and problems are totally unique to us but one thing is for certain: if you’re not looking after your skin it is going to be almost impossible to get the results you want from your make-up. Here, we write in detail just what you need to know about skincare so that your base is flawless and skin is glowing.

1. The change over
Be sure you’re keeping towels, wash clothes and bed sheets on a high rotation so as not to subject your skin to any unnecessary bacteria. Warmth, moisture and dead skin cells make for the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and breakouts.

2. Hydrate
It certainly seems obvious but how many glasses of water are you really getting through each day? Moisturizer won’t cut it here (it’s designed to lock moisture in, rather than hydrate) top up your water glass, sip tea and be sure that your skin is getting what it needs, especially in winter.

3. Oil up
Don’t be afraid to experiment with oils and find a blend that works for you. Depending on your needs (pigmentation, dehydration and fine lines) your skin can easily be soothed with an oil kick added to your regimen. Rose hip, sea buckthorn and even olive oil are all good places to start.

4. Stay sun safe
Another obvious one, but how often do you really reach for your SPF? If you’re not into applying a slick of sunscreen under your make-up every day (who is?) opt for SPF-rich foundations, BB creams and primers that will add protection and no extra steps to your routine.

5. Take care of your eyes
This is the most delicate part of the face and should be handled with care. Taking a few extra seconds to pat on your eye cream (rather than rubbing it in) and removing make-up with care will serve you well. Be sure to invest in an eye cream that hydrates but also have ingredients like caffeine or ginger to wake the eye area up.

6. Make-up break up
All make-up has an expiry date and this is one rule that should never be broken or ignored. Replacing your make-up once it has reached its use-by date is important not only to protect you from breakouts or infection but also, once open, ingredients with your products begin to break down and their efficacy dwindles. Why use a product that’s doing nothing for you!