When pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter shared a TikTok video talking about her favourite lip balm, she described how it absorbs the lips' natural pH and "brings out this beautiful pink" and keeps them "super moisturised." The product went viral, as did the concept of pH-reactive make-up.
Lotus sprout extract is derived from the young shoots of the lotus plant, which are rich in antioxidants and protective phytonutrients. Because sprouts are in an active growth phase, they contain concentrated bioactive compounds that help defend the skin against environmental stressors.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Aiza Jamil says facial puffiness is usually caused by fluid retention and common triggers include high salt and alcohol intake, allergies and lack of sleep. Dr Tina Tian, also a consultant dermatologist explains most viral hacks fall into three categories - cold exposure, massage and temporary tightening effects. They can "genuinely reduce visible swelling and provide relief but the key word is temporary - they won't permanently change facial structure".
My skin and winter have never gotten along. The minute the air becomes cold outside and the heat clicks on indoors, my skin turns tight, flaky, and angry. No matter how much moisturizer I slather on, my face eventually grows dry all over again, and my hands never seem to stop cracking. No amount of fancy serum, overnight cream, or Vaseline could ever keep up.
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You know those people who make you do a double-take when they mention their age? The ones who casually drop they're 52 but look like they could be in their mid-thirties? I met someone like this at a coffee shop last week. She mentioned her adult son was turning 30, and I nearly choked on my drink. I would've guessed she was maybe 40, tops. When I asked about her workout routine, she laughed and said she hadn't been to a gym in years.
Remember that viral TikTok showing someone's $500 skincare routine? I watched it three times, mentally calculating how many months of rent that collection represented. Then I looked at my own bathroom shelf, packed with Korean beauty products that cost me less than a nice dinner out, and realized something: My skin had never looked better, and I'd spent a fraction of what my luxury-brand-devoted friends had.
At the start of the year, the most activity I can manage is to pop on a podcast and haul myself into a bubble bath. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. It's a comfort that has made me an expert in every bath cream, foam and salt on the high street. I am practically incapable of passing a shelf without popping a new one in my trolley.
