It’s the most wonderful time of the year for sweet treats, libations and late nights that may make the season merry and bright but ultimately wreak havoc on your skin. While maintaining a #flawless complexion through New Year’s may seem like a tall order, celebrity facialist Dr. Barbara Sturm (the woman who gave Gigi and Bella Hadid, Cindy Bruna and their fellow Victoria’s Secret Angels her signature “Sturm Glow” just days before the VS Fashion Show earlier this month) is here with tips and tricks for keeping your skin healthy and luminous over the holidays.
“Perhaps the main philosophical idea underpinning my entire approach to skin care is to make a person feel good living in their own skin,” Dr. Sturm tells Us. “Healthy skin is both beautiful and functioning. When your skin feels supple and hydrated, is clear of skin conditions from acne to dermatoses and glows, it is the ultimate confidence boost.”
If you take a gander at the skin expert’s Instagram page, you’ll see models and celebs like Jaime King, Hailey Baldwin, Angela Bassett and more all basking in their post-facial glow. Unlike some in-office treatments that leave skin red and blotchy, Dr. Sturm’s technique is free of peels and other skin barrier disruptors and instead focuses on hydrating and easing inflammation via moisturizing workhorses like small-molecule hyaluronic acid.
For those who aren’t #blessed with a pre-holiday facial appointment with Dr. Sturm, she says there are plenty of ways to recreate her glowing results at home. One of the pillars of her treatment is gentle lymphatic drainage to get rid of toxins, and massaging your own complexion can have you looking more radiant in no time.
“Very gently — applying a serum or moisturizer to reduce friction — use the heel of both hands to lightly massage in an upward motion from the top of the forehead down to the eyebrows, then to the temples and following the jawline. Then, go down through the sides of the neck while transitioning from using the heels of the hands to using the outer small finger side of the hands,” she recommends. “Repeat this motion several times. Then, beginning just above the collarbone in front of your neck, massage the skin in slow, gentle circles for about a minute. Move up the neck in a line from the collarbone toward your ears, massaging each inch for 20 seconds.”
To continue to the at-home self-care routine, she also suggests a mini facial using some of the products in her Dr. Barbara Sturm skincare line. Start by cleaning the skin with the gentle Cleanser, before applying the antioxidant-rich Face Mask for 20 minutes (or until fully absorbed).
Since moisture is the key to glow, she next says to apply a few drops of her cult-favorite Hyaluronic Serum followed by her botanical—infused Face Cream (the succulent purslane, for example, has antibacterial and hydrating properties). Last but not least, her aptly named Glow Drops can be applied over or under makeup for an instant boost.
Oh, and in case that wasn’t enough, the facialist just launched her new Brightening collection, which includes a serum, cream and lotion that works to lighten dark spots, protect against free-radical damage and, of course, hydrate skin.
With regular practice, Dr. Sturm says you’ll be shining bright like a diamond in no time. “You will see a de-puffing effect and less sallowness in your skin,” she says, “[in addition to] more glow and general skin health.” Cheers to that!
