Australia’s Melanie Grant on cost-effective skincare for glowing skin

Vogue Beauty Awards judge and global skincare queen Melanie Grant has A-listers clamouring for her beauty advice but she says anyone can have glowing skin.

Australia’s Melanie Grant has made her name as a super-facialist to the stars, but she firmly believes looking good does not have to break the bank.

Grant has given skincare advice to A-list clients including Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Eva Longoria but says, no matter who you are or what your budget, a less is more approach is best for glowing skin and your hip pocket.

“I’ve always been an advocate for investing wisely in your skin care. It’s never been about having a million products, but rather focusing on a small handful of formulas that you know work well with your unique set of concerns, and that’ll do all the heavy lifting for you,” says Grant, who has clinics in Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Los Angeles.

Melanie Grant is one of the world’s most sought-after skincare experts.

A recent News Corp reader survey has revealed that, when it comes to discretionary spending, beauty ranks in the top three categories for Aussies (after household products and travel), with skincare being the top priority.

Grant, who is the official skin expert for Chanel and a judge on the inaugural Vogue Beauty Awards, says it’s important that a beauty routine is tailored to the individual.

“Being savvy with your skincare doesn’t mean you need to compromise on results. It’s about finding a balance between investing in the hero parts of a regime, like your serum, and reverting to simpler iterations for the core elements, like your cleanser or moisturiser.”

SIX STEPS

Here are Grant’s top savvy skincare tips:

1. Getting enough sleep: Our bodies go into repair mode overnight, producing collagen, replacing old and damaged skin cells with new ones and discarding toxins and waste. If we look at skin renewal from a chronobiology standpoint, we know that blood flow to the skin is at its peak between 1am and 4pm and cell mitosis occurs most rapidly between 12am and 1am. So ensuring you’re in bed at a decent hour, and in a deep sleep during this time, will help you make the most of these natural processes of healing, regeneration and renewal.

2. Hydrate: Every cell in our bodies uses water for energy, to transport nutrients and oxygen, to remove waste, to mitigate inflammation and, to top it all off, the skin itself is made of around 60 per cent water. Keeping your reserves up doesn’t have to mean glass after glass of plain water – though if that’s your option of choice, try to reach for filtered, if you can. Herbal teas, soups and hydrating foods like fresh fruit and vegetables also contribute to our daily uptake of H2O. Try to be mindful of water-wicking substances like coffee, alcohol and too much salt and central heating, which can really compromise barrier function, too.

3. DIY facial massage: A good massage that supports lymphatic drainage, to promote circulation, flood the tissues with nutrients and to lift and tone the skin doesn’t need to be complicated. Use olive or avocado oil and the full breadth of your hands to work against gravity with “upward” and “outward” motions. Applying firm and consistent pressure, let the natural contours of your face and jaw guide you – 2-3 minutes is more than enough. Don’t forget your neck, shoulders and scalp. All of these surrounding muscles have an effect on the tension we hold in our faces.

4. DIY ice plunge: This will enhance the de-puffing, lifting, tightening effects of your massage. Fill a large bowl with clean, cold water and empty a tray or two of ice into it. Submerge your face into the cold water on and off around 5 times at 10 second intervals. Gently pat dry and follow with your favourite serums and creams.”

Skin serum is the work horse of your beauty routine.

5. Skin serum: These are a great place to invest when it comes to your home care regime; they’re often formulated with the highest concentration of actives and with the smallest molecular weight, so they’ll penetrate most effectively into the skin, giving the best possible chance of true, noticeable results. I see these as the real work horse of your skincare regimen.

6. Sunscreen: This is the one non-negotiable. You must incorporate a broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen into your regime every morning. This could be a $10 version from your local supermarket or a higher-end product. Just do it.

VOTE AND WIN

Vogue Australia has launched its inaugural Vogue Beauty Awards, designed to recognise and celebrate the best-in-class products across skincare, body, haircare and makeup.

Digital director Francesca Wallace says the awards aim “to engage readers in a category

they’re passionate about”.

There are 21 awards up for grabs. The short-listed products have been tested and nominated by Vogue’s editors and an expert judging panel, including skin care specialist Melanie Grant, dermatologist Dr Shammi Theesan and award-winning hairstylist Anthony Nader. The public can vote until March 20 at vogue.com.au/beautyawards.

The winning products will be revealed in Vogue’s June issue and on vogue.com.au

Originally published as Australia’s Melanie Grant on cost-effective skincare for glowing skin